All language subtitles for S16E001_Elimination Chamber 2026_by MerkavaMII_Subtitles01.ENG

[epic music playing]

-[Triple H] Then.
-[crowd cheering]

[Triple H] Now.

Forever.

Together.

[music concludes]

-[rock music playing]
-[crowd cheering]

[Michael] This is the Windy City,
Chicago, Illinois, a WWE hotbed…

-[crowd cheering]
-…a city defined by its hard-nosed,

blue-collar sports teams

like the NBA's Bulls
and the NHL's Blackhawks,

who play here in the iconic United Center,

hosting a WWE TV event
for the first time in 32 years.

Welcome to WWE Elimination Chamber.

[rock song continues playing indistinctly]

[Michael] Welcome, ladies and gentlemen,

to Chicago, the home
to the World Heavyweight Champion,

CM Punk!

[song concludes]

-[tense music playing]
-[car horns blare]

People ask me, "Does pressure bother you?"

[crowd chanting "CM Punk"]

[Punk] Pressure feels like this city
I grew up in.

Like the walls that shake
when the trains go by.

The wind that hits you head-on.

[crowd cheering]

[Punk] Growing up here…

you learn how to stay calm when it's loud.

-[crowd exclaiming]
-[siren wailing]

[Punk] To think straight
when everything's closing in.

-[bird chirping]
-[dog barking]

That's why the chamber
never rattled me.

[Michael] CM Punk does the impossible!

[Corey] One of the most cruel,
unforgiving structures ever devised.

[Punk] Whether it's one-on-one
on the outside.

[commentator] CM Punk,
Finn Bálor, AJ Lee, Becky Lynch!

[Punk] Or a battle on the inside.

When that door slams shut
and the world goes quiet.

[music fades]

[Wade] I don't know
if anyone's ready for this.

-[crowd cheering]
-[music continues]

Everyone…

feels that weight.

[Michael] Welcome
to the Elimination Chamber.

[Wade] This is gonna get nasty.

[Michael] Oh, my goodness!

The stakes could not be higher.

[crowd cheering]

[Punk] Getting through it isn't a win.

It's the price
for chasing what matters most.

[Michael] A guaranteed opportunity
at WrestleMania.

So, all this pressure?

[Michael] Wait a minute! Oh, my God!

[ship siren wailing]

It feels like home.

[music concludes]

[crowd cheering]

[upbeat rock music playing]

[crowd cheering]

[Michael] You are looking live
at the United Center. Sold out,

19,346 WWE fans on hand tonight

for the final PLE before WrestleMania.

And the stars are out tonight.

It's the last chance to earn
a WWE title opportunity at WrestleMania

-for the American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes.
-[crowd cheering]

[Michael] He'll be locked
inside the Elimination Chamber tonight,

as will the 14-time world champion,

-The Viper. Randy Orton…
-[crowd cheering]

…entering the chamber
for a record tenth time,

looking to win
for a second time in his career.

Finn Bálor says he'll shake up
the main event at WrestleMania tonight

when he wins
the World Heavyweight Championship.

Also tonight,

the Intercontinental Champion
Becky Lynch has an away game.

Her back's against the wall
because she's in the hometown

-of none other than AJ Lee.
-[crowd cheering]

[Michael] First title match in 11 years
accompanied by her husband,

Chicago's own CM Punk, who defends
the world title versus Finn Bálor tonight.

[upbeat rock song continues indistinctly]

[song concludes]

-[tense music playing]
-[crowd cheering]

[Michael] It is a menacing steel structure

known as the Elimination Chamber.

Twenty-four years old this year.

It will surround the ring
as we kick off the home stretch…

to WrestleMania.

Let's check in
with our ring announcer, Mark Nash.

[bell ringing]

[Mark] The following
is the Women's Elimination Chamber Match!

[crowd cheering]

[Mark] Two superstars start in the ring.

Four superstars in individual pods.

A random pod door opens
at regularly scheduled intervals

until all pods are empty.

Superstars are eliminated
by pinfall or submission.

The last superstar standing
will be declared the winner

and go on to challenge
the WWE Women's Champion,

Jade Cargill at WrestleMania 42!

[crowd cheering]

["The Fury" playing]

♪ P-p-p-p-pain… ♪

[Mark] Introducing first,
from Columbus, Ohio,

Alexa Bliss!

[Michael] Alexa Bliss will enter
the Elimination Chamber

for the fourth time in her career,
second all time to Liv Morgan,

who is at six
on the women's side of things.

Alexa Bliss, Wade,
knows what it takes to win the Chamber.

She won the inaugural
Women's Chamber match back in 2018.

[Wade] Yeah, here's a woman
with an all-timer resume

who has been mainly
focused on tag action in recent months,

but looking to get back to the very top.

It has been a long time since Alexa Bliss
has held world championship gold.

She gets one step closer tonight
with victory inside the Chamber.

[Michael] Highly decorated
with four world cham--

Five world championships in her career,
four tag team titles.

And she will be locked inside a pod,
inside the Chamber,

to start off this matchup here tonight.

Hello to everybody at ringside,
I'm Michael Cole, he's Wade Barrett.

We're in the final PLE stop
before WrestleMania.

Yeah, this entire arena is now vibrating.

It's not just the music,
it is the energy of this audience.

And trust me, the vibrations
in the locker room are massive.

This is a huge step towards making
your dreams come true at WrestleMania.

The winner of this Chamber match tonight
will head to WrestleMania

to take on Jade Cargill
for the WWE Championship.

Jade Cargill, we understand,
is in attendance here tonight

at the United Center in Chicago
among the 19,000 plus.

She's looking on.

She will learn in a matter of moments
who she will face…

at WrestleMania.

[crowd cheering]

[Michael] The all striking presence
of "The Storm."

Referee Eddie Orengo
will shut the pod door.

Alexa Bliss locked inside
until it's her turn.

-[song concludes]
-["The Future" playing]

[crowd cheering]

♪ From far and wide
And light years away ♪

♪ Cast from the shadows
Now light my way ♪

♪ Fallen idols scream yesterday ♪

♪ Your kings and your queens
Hit the ground like rain ♪

♪ From far and wide
And light years away ♪

♪ The one force of nature
They call by name… ♪

[Mark] Next, from Osaka, Japan,

she is one half of The Kabuki Warriors,

Asuka!

[Michael] Another woman
who has massive experience

inside the Chamber,
her third Chamber match here tonight.

She won back in 2023,

which would earn her
a WWE Championship match at WrestleMania.

Wade, in the history
of Elimination Chamber,

only one woman has won this match twice,
that was Bianca Belair.

Alexa Bliss, Asuka have an opportunity
to tie her tonight.

[Wade] Well, nobody's doubting
the pedigree of either woman,

and I don't know
if the Elimination Chamber

is ready for Asuka,

but Asuka is certainly ready
for the Chamber,

and indeed, Alexa Bliss.

[Michael] Asuka will be locked
inside a pod to start this match.

♪ I am the future ♪

♪ From far and wide
And light years away… ♪

[song fades]

["La Mas Ruda" playing]

♪ La ruda ♪

♪ La mas ruda… ♪

[crowd cheering]

[Mark] Next,
from Rio Grande Valley, Texas,

representing The Judgment Day,

Raquel Rodriguez!

[Michael] For the third time
in her career,

Raquel Rodriguez steps
inside Elimination Chamber.

And this is a big night here tonight
for The Judgment Day.

We know that Liv Morgan, the winner
of the Women's Royal Rumble, Wade,

will challenge Stephanie Vaquer
at WrestleMania for the world title.

Raquel Rodriguez wins tonight,
another member of Judgment Day

will challenge for a championship,
the WWE title at WrestleMania.

[Wade] Well, this is The Judgment Day,
getting back to what they do best.

Ever since Liv Morgan's return,

all members exclusively focused
on the acquisition of gold,

and they can't make it at all.

Judgment Day affair at WrestleMania
at the top of the women's card.

♪ La ruda… ♪

[Michael] And the way she's been going,
nothing may stop Raquel tonight.

Let's go. Let's go! Whoo!

[song concludes]

["Demon in Your Dreams" playing]

♪ This is my brutality ♪

[crowd cheering]

♪ I eat, sleep, bleed
The demons in your dreams ♪

♪ I eat, sleep, bleed ♪

♪ Look at my eyes, look a-- look alive… ♪

[Mark] Next,
from Adelaide, South Australia,

Rhea Ripley!

[Michael] I've said this before
and I'm gonna say it again.

Google the word "superstar"
and Rhea Ripley's image will appear.

Ripley, Wade,
looking to win this match tonight

and earn her fifth
World Championship match.

Five of them at WrestleMania.

[Wade] Yeah, it's been a dreadful
24 hours for Rhea Ripley.

Just 24 hours ago, Louisville,
Kentucky for SmackDown,

Rhea Ripley and Iyo Sky lost
the Women's Tag Team Championships

to The Irresistible Forces.

And Rhea Ripley undoubtedly
physically beat up now,

and perhaps with the loss
of gold mentally too.

[Michael] Yeah, I was gonna say,
how does last night's loss--

And she got pinned
in that match by Lash Legend.

[Michael] How does last night's loss
affect Rhea coming into tonight?

[Wade] It just ramps that pressure up.

Rhea Ripley needs
a Marquee Championship Match

at WrestleMania.

She would have had that
with Tag Gold. That's gone now.

If Ripley does not win this match

she will not be having a Marquee Match
at WrestleMania this year,

and that is unthinkable.

[Michael] As Rhea Ripley tours the pod,

she will be the fourth woman
locked inside the pods here tonight.

We now know the next two women

will actually start
the Elimination Chamber.

♪ The demons in your dreams
I eat, sleep, bleed… ♪

[Michael] Wade, you have been
in three Chamber Matches in your career.

-[Wade] Don't remind me.
-[Michael] How intimidating is that

to have one of the superstars
walk up to you,

go face-to-face while you're in the pod?

[Wade] You know what, as long
as I was locked in the safety of the pod,

I didn't mind so much.
It was when that pod opened,

I was surrounded by steel everywhere,
I loved it.

Ravenous looking competitors
looking to end my career

as quickly as they could

in order to put their ticket
to WrestleMania or a championship,

whatever it may have been.

But for now,
these four women have got lucky,

-the next two not so much.
-[music concludes]

["The Highest" playing]

[Mark] Making her way in to the ring
from Sioux City, Iowa,

Kiana James.

[Michael] Wade, you and I have been
touting the attributes of Kiana James

for a number of months now.

It's been an incredible
couple of months for Kiana.

Back at the Royal Rumble,

she lasted almost 30 minutes
in the Rumble match, and then of course,

one of the biggest upsets I believe
in SmackDown history

when she knocked off
Nia Jax and Charlotte Flair,

pinning the queen to qualify tonight.

[Wade] Yeah, not everybody gets handed
the same opportunity right off the bat

when it comes to WWE.

Kiana has had to make meals
out of crumbs at times,

but she's more than done that.

She's blown people's minds,
shocked the world

when, as you mentioned, she defeated
Charlotte and Nia to qualify for this.

The truth is, Kiana James
is flying under the radar in this match.

None of the other five competitors
are focused on Kiana James.

If Kiana wants to shock the world,

she's in exactly the right place
to do just that.

Although, she's gonna
have to do it the hard way

-from the very start of this match.
-Come on!

[Michael] Kiana's rise
in WWE was sidetracked

with a very serious knee injury,
cost her over a year of her career.

She told Yahoo Sports
in an exclusive interview

that she, well, wants to come back
stronger than ever.

One percent better
in the ring every single day

has helped her develop a mental toughness

in that brick-by-brick approach
to get better.

What an opportunity
for the woman who you claim

-will fly under the radar tonight.
-Hi.

[Wade] Yeah, as smart as they come,

Kiana James knows
the secret to success in this game

is a competitive edge.

And that mega brain of Kiana James
has done her a real solid

in her run on SmackDown so far.

Can it launch her
all the way to WrestleMania?

[music concludes]

-["Tiffy Time" playing]
-♪ It's Tiffy Time ♪

-[crowd cheering]
-♪ Ooh ♪

♪ Drop ♪

♪ I'm going in
Bass so loud, it's in my skin ♪

♪ Drop ♪

♪ I wanna see you
Drop, drop, drop, drop, drop ♪

It's Tiffany Time, people.

[Mark] And from Prior Lake,
Minnesota, Tiffany Stratton.

[Michael] Tiffany Stratton
beat Chelsea Green and Lash Legend

to qualify for tonight.

It's her second Chamber match
in her career.

Last year at the Chamber,
she had a career highlight,

she told me earlier today.

That was the night she tagged
with the Hall of Famer,

the legendary Trish Stratus in Toronto.

[Wade] Ooh! Well, 2025 as a whole
was an absolute banner year

for Tiffany Stratton all the way

up until she lost
her Women's WWE Championship

to one Jade Cargill.

Now, she got injured
in the process of that loss

and has been desperate
to get a rematch with Cargill ever since.

It's a real simple process.

You just have to win the chamber
from the very start, Tiffy.

Then you get your date
with destiny with Jade Cargill.

[Michael] One note
on the number two entry mark

-for Kiana James in this matchup.
-[inaudible]

[Michael] Number two,
the least amount of wins

in Elimination Chamber Match history,

just three wins
over the 24-year history of the Chamber.

So, the matchup starts
with two women in the ring.

At regular intervals, pods will open,
another woman will enter the fray.

This is an elimination match.

Once you lose, either pinned or submitted,
you gotta head back to the locker room.

The last woman standing
goes to WrestleMania.

-[crowd cheering]
-[music concludes]

-[Michael] And we're underway.
-[bell ringing]

[Michael] Referee Dan Engler
calling for the bell.

He'll work the matchup inside the ring.

Outside, a number of officials
will guard the pods,

-open the pods when it is necessary.
-[inaudible]

[Michael] So, James
and Tiffany Stratton, Wade,

what type of strategy do you use
when you start this matchup off?

[Wade] Well, you've mentioned
we've got some veterans in there

who experienced the Chamber before.

We also have some others
such as Kiana James who have not.

Kiana James is in
for a massive shock imminently

once she tastes that steel
for the very first time.

Nothing can prepare you for it.

My advice at this point is stay
as far away from the outside of this ring

for as long as you possibly can.

[Michael] My estimation, Kiana James
is playing with house money tonight.

Not really a lot to lose here, but--

A perfect opportunity
and a nice headlock take down by Strat.

[Wade] See,
I actually disagree with you there.

You have a lot to lose in the Chamber
regardless of the result

when it comes to your health
and longevity of your career.

This is such a dangerous situation
to be in.

-Although I do agree…
-[crowd cheering]

…this is not where Kiana James
expected to be right now.

-She just needs to execute.
-What time is it?

-[crowd] Tiffy Time!
-[Michael] Both of these women,

highly decorated gymnasts
in their college days,

-brought that athleticism here to WWE.
-[crowd chanting "Tiffy Time"]

[Michael] And I know Tiffany
wants to get into a test of strength

with Kiana James.

[Wade] I'll tell you right now,
there is a level of disrespect

being thrown at Kiana James
from the entire women's locker room.

And I think after tonight,
those who have not been paying attention

will certainly gain a lot more respect
for Little Miss Smarty Pants here.

Ooh! And a nice start.

[Michael] You know,
we talked about it earlier today,

the chip, the massive chip
on the shoulder of Kiana James.

[Wade] A very valuable thing
to have at this level.

-[Michael] Cover.
-[Wade] Here we go.

[Michael] Only a one count.

[Wade] It would have been nice
to put Tiffany away there,

have a little rest
till the next pod opens.

Get yourself as fresh as you can
because four more women

are gonna be consecutively introduced
into this match,

each one fresher than the last.

[Michael] I think
it also drives Kiana James,

the fact that for-- Oh!
A lot of her career,

she's been overlooked
by her buddy, Giulia.

Ooh! And a nice
basement dropkick by Strat,

Into the cover, hooks the leg,
and a kick-out at two.

[Wade] Well, she's done
a hell of a job for Giulia so far

as her official representative,

led Giulia to a couple of championships
already here on SmackDown.

[Michael] And that standing moonsault
by Kiana James,

cover on Strat, and a kick-out.

[Wade] The word is certainly out too
about Kiana James now,

and the taste for gold
has spread around Giulia and Kiana.

That is an addictive thing to have, man.

They could have
a whole lot of gold come WrestleMania.

[Michael] See Tiffany in the ring,
she battled Kairi Sane, 24 hours ago.

Masterclass put on by Asuka,

who originally accepted
Tiffany Stratton's challenge.

[Wade] Yeah,
you've gotta be absolutely insane

to accept a match 24 hours
before a massive battle like this.

[Wade] Well certainly Tiffany did
on the basis

that a fellow opponent
in Asuka was gonna,

and then a last minute switcheroo
changed that to Kairi Sane.

So fresh as a daisy is Asuka,
whereas pre-beaten up perhaps,

is Tiffany Stratton
despite getting the victory yesterday.

[Michael] Yeah, and then she had to start
the match up off as well.

And Kiana now tossing Stratton
outside the ropes.

Again, there are no disqualifications,
obviously no count outs in this match.

[Wade] This is the danger zone right now.

As soon as you leave the inside
of those ropes,

there is steel,
metal everywhere you look.

And there is no part of the human body

that likes being introduced
to cold, hard steel.

[Michael] Kiana looking for a suplex block
three times now by Tiffany,

who uses one of her own,
and you see the back buckle of Kiana.

What does that feel like?

[Wade] Well, that is a certain regret now
coursing through the veins of Kiana.

Whatever strategy she had

to take down Tiffany Stratton
has backfired in the worst way.

-Welcome to the chamber.
-[crowd cheering]

[Michael] And Kiana rolled out
of harm's way and Tiffany headfirst

into the pod as Raquel Rodriguez
laughs at her.

[Wade] Oh, man, you see
all that gymnastic ability,

but it backfired there in a big way,

blasting hard against that chamber
in the lower back of Tiffany Stratton.

It was a bad, bad way,

and it was a big mammy cool
like the look of that.

[Michael] And Wade,
the thing about the chamber is sometimes

you have to change your game.

You gotta change your offense
a little bit.

You can't go back to the well

with the things that have
brought you there

'cause it can get you in trouble
like we saw there.

[crowd counting]

[Michael] Who will enter the chamber next?

[crowd counting]

[buzzer buzzing]

[Michael] The Empress of Tomorrow.

Asuka waiting for the door to open,

and it does, and Kiana James
with a preemptive strike,

driving Asuka into the pod.

[Wade] Well,
absolutely bull rushing Asuka,

knowing full well that Asuka is one
of the biggest threats in this match.

Kiana James smart enough to stop
Asuka getting out the blocks,

but it simply didn't last.

[Michael] Oh, goodness, look at this,
just pounding, bouncing,

Kiana James off the pod.

[Wade] Yeah, and this goes back

to what you were
talking about moments ago,

about strategies
and how you have to change them.

This is the point Kiana James
changes strategy,

because she can't remember the strategy
that she came in with.

[Michael] And now Tiffany Stratton
driven into the pod by Asuka,

who's been relentless in her attacks
since coming into the chamber.

[Wade] Uncaged, unleashed,

and wreaking havoc
inside the Elimination Chamber.

Two for the price of one now
for the Empress of Tomorrow.

[Michael] Clothesline
followed by a bulldog,

and Wade, we've said this
on a number of occasions,

Asuka, one of the most
dangerous women in WWE.

[Wade] Well, no doubt about it,

there is nothing this woman
cannot do in there.

Everything this woman hits
is hit with authority.

And there is a certain demented look
in the eye of Asuka now,

who is loving the carnage she can exact
inside the Chamber.

[Michael] A four-time world champion,
she's won five tag titles,

tied with Raquel for the most ever.

We mentioned she won
a chamber three years ago.

And now the Empress of Tomorrow, Asuka,

with a double missile dropkick
to take out James and Stratton.

Cover now on Kiana,
and a kick-out by James.

Now a cover on Stratton by Asuka,
and a kick-out by Tiffany.

[Wade] So fantastic start here
from Asuka,

taking down two opponents
who were obviously

pre-weakened as they started
the match before Asuka did.

Here's the issue,
Asuka has just burned up a ton

of energy
staying in control of this match.

And eventually that might come back
to bite her in the latter stages.

[Michael] And Asuka beat a couple
of legends to actually qualify,

Bayley and Nattie knocked off by Asuka,

earn her the opportunity tonight.

[Wade] It just tells you
that Asuka really is firing

on all cylinders as the best
always do this time of year

-as we close in on WrestleMania.
-[Michael] And now Tiffany Stratton,

that handspring back elbow
and on the other side.

[crowd cheering]

[Michael] Big knee by Asuka
connects into the cover.

Is it enough on Tiffany
who just gets the shoulder up?

[Wade] Just shows you the experience
of Asuka there and…

On a tear was Tiffany Stratton
just lying in wait, ready to pounce.

[Michael] The fourth member
of the Chamber will enter.

[crowd counting]

-[buzzer buzzing]
-[crowd cheering]

[Michael] Little Miss Bliss,
and look at the look,

the disturbing look
on the face of the winner

of the inaugural Chamber match
for the women.

[Wade] That is not a look
anybody should ever have

on their face stepping into the carnage
that is the Elimination Chamber.

[Michael] Bliss knocking off Giulia
and Zelina to qualify

-for this match tonight.
-[crowd cheering]

[Wade] Always a sinister and ominous
presence surrounding Alexa Bliss.

And right off the bat,
dropping the entire field.

Keep your eyes peeled, threats
everywhere you look, Bliss.

[Michael] The fact
that Alexa's in this match,

and her friend Charlotte Flair is not,
really has depressed Charlotte.

[Wade] Yeah, she says she's fine.

I do know for a fact
when a woman tells you that,

she is never fine.
Don't fall for that trap.

Charlotte Flair very unhappy
about missing out on the Chamber.

[Michael] And Tiffany Stratton
with a rolling senton,

showing off her power here.

Gonna head up to the top rope,
looking for the prettiest moonsault ever.

But Alexa Bliss intercepted.

[Wade] It was a rough, rough landing,
and Tiffany Stratton's

been in this match a long time already.
And the toll's starting to show,

movement not quite as crisp
as it was in the early goings,

and that dropkick
to the gut will not help.

[Michael] Now Asuka stalking Alexa Bliss,
looking for a German suplex.

Alexa able to deliver a back elbow.

[crowd cheering]

[Michael] Ooh! And a big knee by James.

Bliss rolls her up,
trying to take advantage.

[Wade] Bliss seemed to have almost
extra sensory perception on that one.

And wait a second.

I don't know about Kiana
breaking that pin up,

may have been
a little inexperienced there.

You kinda wanna eliminate opponents
any way you can at this point.

[Michael] Yeah, a bit overzealous perhaps,

but Kiana James has looked great
so far in the chamber.

[Wade] Absolutely superb,
and now looking completely dominant

with three bodies dropped around her.

Two fresh bodies waiting to enter
the match imminently.

[Michael]
Bounced off the steel is Stratton.

Two miles of chain link
surround this structure.

And now James looking
to catapult Stratton.

-Into the pod!
-[crowd cheering]

[Wade] Face first,
getting completely wiped out is Stratton.

Let's take another look at this slingshot
right into that glass and steel.

Just bouncing off skull first.

What an epic display it's been thus far
from Kiana James.

But no time to rest, no time to relax.

[Michael] Number five
gonna enter the chamber.

More wins than any other number,
number five.

Nine wins in the history of the chamber,
so a lucky spot here.

-[crowd counting]
-[buzzer buzzing]

[Michael] For The Eradicator, Rhea Ripley.

[Wade] And Kiana James tried
her best to rush it just as she did Asuka,

simply didn't work.
Clearly, Ripley was waiting for it.

[Michael] Yeah, Rhea's had issues
with Kiana, issues with Asuka.

[Wade] So many of these women have
had issues in the tag division

over on SmackDown,
including the two in the ring right now.

[Michael] Planting Asuka face first.

Stratten now runs
into a head bump by Ripley.

[Wade] Ripley had any war wounds
from last night losing tag gold

to the Irresistible Forces,
it's not showing.

[Michael] Rhea Ripley
who knocked off Lyra,

Valkyria and Ivy Nile to qualify tonight.

Now turns her attention to Alexa Bliss.

Look at this.

[Wade] Just pure power from Ripley,
it's hard to argue with that,

but navigating her way out again.

[Michael] And Alexa Bliss looking perhaps
for Sister Abigail here.

And Rhea turns it around.

[Wade] Rhea having to be very,

very nimble here
and straight back to power.

[Michael] Looking for Riptide,
Bliss still able to.

[Wade] You can just read the panic
on the body

of Alexa Bliss there as she wriggled out
of that Riptide attempt.

But it might be about to get
worse now on the steel.

[Michael] Bliss does not
wanna be out there,

Rhea Ripley-- Bliss now trying to hang on,
trying to hang on to the chamber,

-trying to protect herself.
-[Wade] Smart use of the chains there,

clinging on for dear life at this point,

but getting higher and higher
and a drop from there--

[Michael] Ooh!

And Kiana driving Ripley back
first into the steel,

Asuka went for the hip attack,

Tiffany Stratton with a dropkick,
Asuka drops her outside.

[Wade] Kiana James once again
lying in wait

and finding the exact
right moment to strike.

[Michael] All four women
on the steel outside the ring.

-[crowd cheering, applauding]
-[Michael] Uh-oh.

Alexa Bliss has found herself
on top of the pod, and Bliss…

[Wade] Oh, God, Twisted Bliss from the top
of the pod takes down everyone.

Take another look at that.

Kiana James maybe avoided
the worst of that one,

but three women completely wiped out
with one high risk move.

And has it taken something out
of Alexa Bliss in the process?

[Michael] Raquel Rodriguez,
who will join this frame momentarily,

has to be licking her chops, Wade,
as these five women beat each other up.

[Wade] And when you see carnage
like that right in front of your eyes,

now is the time to start thinning the herd
in this Elimination Chamber match.

[Michael] And no eliminations thus far.

Kiana James caught,
looking for Sister Abigail,

for Alexa Bliss.

Pointing to the WrestleMania sign,
and a missed,

a missed by Asuka to Bliss.

Keanu rolls her up,
Keanu eliminates Bliss.

[Mark] Alexa Bliss has been eliminated.

[Michael] And The Mist is legal,
no disqualifications inside the chamber.

[crowd booing]

[Michael] And Bliss is gonna have
to leave the chamber,

we are down to five.

And Raquel Rodriguez, ten seconds away

from entering
her third Elimination Chamber,

with an opportunity to face Jade Cargill

for the WWE Championship
in WrestleMania, up for grabs.

[buzzer blaring]

[Michael] And Raquel, the powerhouse
of The Judgment Day, just catching--

Tiffany Stratton and a baseball swing
into the side of the cage.

[Wade] The strongest woman in the match,
the baddest woman in the match,

the freshest woman in the match.

[Michael] You talked about Kiana James
and the number

of months that she's had here.

What about Raquel Rodriguez,
really coming of age for Raquel.

Oh! And Rhea Ripley hung up
on the top rope.

[Wade] Oh, God, Raquel stepped up
absolutely huge when

Liv Morgan went down
with injury in The Judgment Day

about 12 months ago.
And Raquel has not looked back.

Get yourself all the way to WrestleMania,
but wait up here.

[Michael] Yeah, smart strategy by Kiana,
Asuka, and Tiffany.

Well, it was smart strategy, I thought.
Now, Rhea Ripley.

[Wade] It was the right idea,

very difficult to tear down
someone as powerful as Raquel.

Slowly teamwork seems
to get the job done--

Oh, God, who the hell can manhandle
Rhea bloody Ripley like that?

[Michael] Raquel treating Ripley
and now Asuka like ragdolls.

And Kiana James sent into the steel.

Raquel Rodriguez, a human demolition ball.

And now Rhea Ripley with a big forearm.

[Wade] Raquel just a woman who nobody

in the locker room
can physically dominate.

-[Michael] Oh! Look at this.
-[Wade] That is just ludicrous, Raquel.

[Michael] Rhea was going for the--
Oh, hurricanrana,

caught by Raquel
and now tossed into the ring.

[Wade] Those are two women who know
each other so, so well at NXT.

They were best buds
and training partners.

However, two alpha females
do not get on for long.

Eventually that imploded
just like the spine of Rhea Ripley

and now the head perhaps
of Tiffany Stratton.

[Michael] And now Asuka trying to drive
Raquel Rodriguez into the steel.

Quick strikes by the Empress of Tomorrow.

[Wade] And every woman in this match
outside of Raquel needs

to get on the same page.

You cannot give
Raquel any breathing room.

She's gonna cut through you all
like a hot knife through butter.

[Michael] Well, that's a fallaway slam,
sending Asuka into the ring.

And now Kiana James driving Raquel
into the steel.

And now caught in a pod.

[Wade] Again, once Raquel
drops her guard, you have to pound,

someone needs to be waiting.

Raquel is gonna take this like candy
from a baby if you don't.

[Michael] And now a running power slam
through the pod.

-[crowd cheering, applauding]
-[Michael] Bulldog would be happy.

[Wade] The broken body of Kiana James,
now ripe for the pickings.

-Raquel has done the damage.
-[Michael] And now Raquel catching Asuka

in her arms, Tejana Bomb bonafide,
stacking up both women.

-Raquel eliminates James and Asuka.
-[crowd counting]

[Mark] Asuka and Kiana James
have been eliminated.

[Wade] Well, take a look at this,
Kiana James getting smashed

through one of the pods
by Raquel with absolute ease.

And that is a body just waiting
to be pinned.

But before she could get there,
Asuka had other ideas.

Uh-uh, not tonight, it's a hell of a bomb,
two for the price of one

for Raquel who is starting to steamroller
towards WrestleMania.

[Michael] We are now down to three.

One of these women going
to Las Vegas in seven weeks

to face Jade Cargill for the WWE title.

Will it be Tiffany Stratton?
Will it be Rhea Ripley?

Will it be Raquel Rodriguez?
High stakes, high pressure here tonight.

[Wade] And let's not forget
that Tiffany Stratton has been

in this thing from the very beginning.

Two relatively fresher women
in there with her.

But Tiffany Stratton has the movement
to avoid the worst

of the damage
and try and put this to bed,

but no, that's not gonna work.

[Michael] Yeah, Tiffany may wanna
change things up

instead of trying
to overpower Raquel Rodriguez

who delivers that twirling
slam to Stratton.

[crowd counting]

[Michael] Tiffany
gets the shoulder up at two.

[Wade] Here's part of the problem
when it comes to Tiffany Stratton.

This deep in the matchup,

you simply are working off instincts,
not strategy now.

And some of the things
you're looking to do,

your body is not gonna cooperate with you
on them 'cause you are too beaten up.

[Michael] Now Ripley sent into the steel.

[Wade] This is just barbaric abuse
now being thrown at Ripley

from the powerhouse Raquel.
What the hell is she cooking up here?

[Michael] Rhea caught,
Raquel now trapping Rhea Ripley

in the steel chain link.

[Wade] Ripley now defenseless,
makes this a one-on-one match up,

but wait, Tiffany Stratton's
got other ideas.

[Michael] Where the hell is she going?

Tiffany now caught by Raquel again.

Another high risk maneuver
backfiring for Stratton.

Trying to fight out of this.

Raquel dumped
into the ring by Tiffany.

[Wade] Nice move by Tiffany
using the momentum

of Raquel against her.

It's about the only way
you can take Raquel down.

[Michael] Big boot by Raquel.

Meanwhile, Rhea Ripley still trapped
in the chamber.

[Wade] And this is exactly
what Raquel needs at this point,

make it one-on-one for now.

Keep Rhea Ripley out of this situation,
completely maul Tiffany Stratton,

send her back to the locker room,
and then pull apart Rhea Ripley.

[Michael] That's a perfect way
to describe a big old grizzly bear,

Raquel Rodriguez,
as you said, mauling Stratton.

-[Wade] And it's become an unfair fight.
-[Michael] Raquel--

[Wade] Like a grown-up
against a child at this point.

[Michael] There's that, uh,
spinning corkscrew elbow.

Raquel's, uh, patented that move and now…

we're gonna lift Stratton up,
put the Tejana Bomb,

Stratton lands on her feet.
Raquel now with a splash in the corner.

[Wade] We know all about the durability
of Tiffany Stratton

and some of the wars she had last year
as the Women's Champion.

She's gonna need all of that right now
and perhaps more

if she's somehow gonna navigate her way
through the chamber.

[Michael] She only suffered
two losses in 2025.

Meanwhile, Ripley on top of the pod,
cannonball to take out Raquel.

[crowd cheering, applauding]

[Wade] But wait up, Cole,
look who's on the top rope!

[Michael] Stratton.
Prettiest moonsault ever.

[crowd counting, cheering]

[Michael] Raquel's eliminated.
We are down to two.

[Mark] Raquel Rodriguez
has been eliminated.

[Wade] Oh, my God,
just when Raquel was going in

for the kill on Tiffany Stratton.

Out of nowhere,
the woman we somehow forgot about,

Rhea takes her down
with that one prettiest moonsault ever.

[crowd counting]

[crowd cheering]

Jade Cargill looks on.

One of these two women
will face her at WrestleMania.

Will it be Stratton? Will it be Ripley?

-Come on, get up. Get up…
-[indistinct chatter]

[crowd member] Come on, Tiffany!

[Michael] Rhea misses with a kick,

big knee by Stratton,
caught Rhea in the face.

[Wade] Okay, some old paper here.

You have to say
Rhea Ripley would be the favorite

given that she was last out of the pod.
And Tiffany started this thing,

but let's not forget,
Rhea Ripley losing tag gold,

24 hours ago
in an incredibly brutal matchup

with Lash Legend and Nia Jax.
Is it gonna pay here?

[Michael] Looking for the Razor's Edge
to Tiffany Stratton, lands on her feet.

Again, I think
you can throw all stats out the window

when it gets down to the final two.
Like this, Alabama Slam!

-Stratton stacks up Ripley…
-[crowd counting]

…who kicks out at two.

What a match.

The prize at the end
of the line, WrestleMania.

[Wade] Yeah, and this is that point
where those top-level competitors find

that extra gear when they need it.

There's your reminder, Tiffany Stratton,
the WrestleMania Vegas sign hanging there.

How much more motivation
does anybody need? Oh!

[Michael] Oh! Went for the Swanton,
Rhea Ripley rolled out of harm's way,

catches Tiffany now with a kick.
It could be Ripley's opportunity.

Boom! Takes out Stratton face first,
cover now by Rhea.

-[crowd counting]
-[Michael] And a kick-out.

[Wade] You see Rhea Ripley
in absolute agony.

That lower back
has been completely given out on her,

unsurprisingly, after the abuses received
in this match and indeed last night.

Is there enough left in the tank
of the Eradicator to put this one to bed?

[crowd chanting "Rhea"]

[Michael] Now, Ripley toward the corner,
Tiffany Stratton caught.

Rhea goes shoulder first.

[Wade] But it's one mistake at this point
in a match that will cost you.

Is that the mistake?
Ready to pounce is Tiffy.

[Michael] Stratton this time connects
with a Swanton, into the cover.

Stratton looking to face Cargill
at WrestleMania, and Rhea kicks out.

[crowd cheering, applauding]

[Michael] It has been
an incredible performance by Stratton,

started the match up here tonight.

[Wade] The wounds obvious
on the face of Tiffany Stratton now,

but she doesn't care.

She's focused on one thing,
that is victory at all costs.

[Michael] Rolling senton again.

Tiffany Stratton up top,
looking for the prettiest moonsault ever,

but driven into the pod by Ripley.

[Wade] Oh, God, jaw first by Ripley
into that pod, and now-- Wait up!

-[Michael] Ripley, Riptide. Cover.
-[crowd counting]

-[Michael] Rhea's going to WrestleMania.
-[bell ringing]

-["Demon In Your Dreams" playing]
-[Mark] Here is your winner

of the Women's 2026 Elimination Chamber,

Rhea Ripley.

-[Michael] Oh, wait, a storm is coming.
-[crowd cheering]

[Wade] Oh, boy, two of the biggest,
most dominant powerhouses

in the women's division are gonna clash
for the WWE Women's Championship

right there at WrestleMania.

[Michael] Rhea Ripley earns
the opportunity to battle

for a championship match
in her fifth straight WrestleMania.

[Wade] And here is
some of the wreckage of this match.

A double elimination by Raquel

who had an absolutely
epic performance in this one,

but this is when it all went wrong.

Drop your guard for a second
and you come a cropper in the chamber,

one prettiest moonsault ever
taking down the powerhouse, Raquel.

After she thought
she started to taste victory.

[Michael] And then Tiffany Stratton
looking to put Rhea away

with the prettiest moonsault ever,
shoved into the pod.

And that's all Rhea Ripley needed
to deliver the Riptide!

That gives her a first-class ticket,
seven weeks from tonight to WrestleMania.

♪ I eat, sleep, bleed
The demons in your dreams ♪

♪ I eat, sleep, bleed ♪

[Michael] What an incredible performance
by all six women tonight.

Cargill, Ripley,
The Storm, The Eradicator.

Jade says, "Bring it on."

Jade, be careful what you wish for.

♪ Give you chills
I′ll take your soul in your sleep ♪

♪ I'm evil, there's no escaping from me ♪

[Michael] Trick Willie.

Trick Williams enters his first
Elimination Chamber match tonight.

And is tonight,
finally, LA Knight's night?

We will find out
in just a little bit inside the chamber.

And 21-year-old Je'Von Evans,
the upstart from Monday Night Raw,

looks to shake up the world tonight.

Coming up next,
for the Intercontinental Championship,

Becky Lynch versus Chicago's own AJ Lee,

live from Elimination Chamber.

[upbeat music playing]

[Michael] And let's take a look
at what's up next,

Intercontinental Championship.

[music concludes]

-[emotional music playing]
-[crowd cheering]

[Michael] AJ Lee is back!

Ten years ago, I retired.

I felt like I had accomplished
all of my dreams in wrestling,

But that was the end of my story.

[AJ Lee] But Becky, she just lights a fire
in me that I forgot that I had.

[Michael] AJ Lee has gotten underneath
the skin of Becky Lynch in a big way.

[Becky] You're ruining my life.

[Corey] High flying crossbody.

-[crowd counting]
-[Corey] We got a new champ!

[bell ringing]

[Becky] There is only so much disrespect
that one woman can take!

[Corey] Becky taps out!
AJ and company win WarGames!

[Becky] What's it gonna take
to get rid of you?

Elimination Chamber,
it's in your hometown, it's in Chicago.

You wanna go one-on-one
with the greatest of all time,

and it's not just me saying it,
other people say it, everybody says it.

Sports Illustrated says it,
the Bleacher Report says it.

I haven't had a singles match
in over a decade.

Without Becky,
maybe I wouldn't have even come back

to prove that I can still be a champion.

You do not deserve to hold this,

but I deserve to get rid of you
and retire you in front of all

of your friends and family
in your hometown of Chicago.

Welcome to the big time.

[AJ Lee] If I walk out
of Chicago victorious,

then I'm sure as hell gonna walk
into WrestleMania

as the Intercontinental Champion.

[music concludes]

["New Lows" playing]

♪ The man has come around ♪

♪ The sleepless nights
The desperate calls, the empty road ♪

♪ I’m spitting blood
I’m staring down a broken nose ♪

♪ I’m sick to death of standing
In the bitter cold ♪

♪ They’ll rue the day
They let me hit a new low ♪

[Michael] Becky Lynch,
a seven-time world champion,

two-time intercontinental champion.

Her second reign began back
on January 5th, the season premiere

of Monday Night Raw on Netflix.
We'd like to thank everyone

who is watching
Elimination Chamber tonight,

the final stop on The Road to WrestleMania

for premium live events
in the United States,

of course, on the ESPN app
and internationally on Netflix.

Becky Lynch understands
it'll be a hostile crowd tonight

because the woman
who now calls Chicago home,

AJ Lee, will have the backing
of the majority of this crowd.

[Wade] Yeah,
highly partisan environment here,

but that's not gonna shake a veteran
like Becky Lynch,

who at least in her mind is the woman

who single-handedly turned
women's wrestling

into the massive juggernaut it is today.

The truth might just be
a little different there,

especially considering
who she's competing against.

But as far as Becky Lynch is concerned,
every ring is her territory.

[Michael] It's interesting, you see
in the background there,

-the official of this matchup…
-[song concludes]

…someone who Becky Lynch
has had major issues with as of late,

Jessika Carr.

[crowd chanting "AJ Lee"]

-["Let’s Light It Up" playing]
-[crowd cheering]

♪ Let's light it up, light it up
Light it up, light it tonight ♪

♪ Let's light it up, like shooting stars
We'll burn and light up the sky ♪

♪ Let's light it up, light it up
Light it up, light it tonight ♪

♪ Let's light it up ♪

♪ Like the night, like the diamonds
As they shine in your eyes ♪

♪ Let's light it up, light it up
Light it up, light it tonight ♪

♪ Like shooting stars, we'll burn
And light up the sky, let's light it up… ♪

[Michael] I had a sit-down with AJ Lee
a bit earlier today,

talked to her a lot
about this moment tonight

here in Chicago, her adopted hometown.

And of course, that the personal issues
with Becky Lynch and the fact

that this is AJ Lee's first singles match
in over a decade and her first title match

in 11 years, will that affect her tonight?

[Wade] Well, let me put a little
perspective on that, Michael Cole.

I have had a singles match
more recently than AJ Lee.

And now you're telling me AJ Lee,
after ten years in the wilderness,

albeit with a couple of matches
alongside her husband in mixed tag

and inside the WarGames
where you have people to lean on,

she now has to do it alone
against one of the best

on the planet in Becky Lynch.
I'm not buying it.

-[Michael] Let's head up to Mark Nash.
-[song concludes]

[bell ringing]

The following contest
is scheduled for one fall

and is for the Women's
Intercontinental Championship.

Introducing first,
the challenger from Union City,

New Jersey, AJ Lee.

[crowd cheering]

And her opponent, from Dublin, Ireland,

she is the Women's
Intercontinental Champion,

-Big Time Becky Lynch.
-[crowd boos]

[Michael] Well, the delusional Becky Lynch
claims that the mayor of Chicago

named today Becky Lynch Day.

Becky claims
that she will humiliate AJ Styles

in front of all her family
and friends here tonight,

and make her retire.

And her nickname for AJ,
"Absolute Joke" AJ Lee.

[Wade] Well, you say that derisively.

However, should Becky Lynch put
AJ Lee away in short order here,

I would actually agree
with the nickname that AJ Lee

-would be an absolute joke.
-[bell ringing]

[Michael] AJ Lee tapped Becky Lynch out
at Wrestlepalooza in the mixed tag match.

Then back at WarGames,
tapped out Becky again to win WarGames.

Cost Becky her first reign
as Intercontinental Championship

and now hopes to win the title
from Becky tonight.

If you're Becky, what strategy do you use
coming into this against AJ Lee?

[Wade] You absolutely smother AJ Lee.

I promise you right now the nerves
in AJ Lee are gonna be

-through the roof in this position.
-[crowd boos]

[Wade] She hides it well,
you put on a face of confidence.

But right now AJ Lee must feel
like the loneliest person on planet Earth,

ten years removed from being
in this exact situation.

[Michael] Becky told me earlier today
that she's gonna try

to out-wrestle AJ Lee,
realizing AJ may be rusty.

Of course, it's been a decade
since you mentioned she's been

in a one-on-one match.

[Wade] And I'll tell you right now, I went
through the developmental system

in WWE alongside AJ Lee during my time

in Florida Championship Wrestling
with a great coach, Dr. Tom Prichard.

And one of his quotes was,
"There is no cheating reps."

And the truth is AJ Lee
has just not had reps in the singles game,

certainly not at this level.
And that means there's nowhere to hide.

[Michael] AJ telling me earlier
that she won

one of her Divas Championships
here in Chicago, returned here last year

and feels very comfortable
wrestling here tonight.

Now, the headlock by Becky Lynch
as AJ looks to fight out.

A couple of well-placed shots
to the kidneys of Becky,

and wants to roll through.

And AJ, nice takedown,
cover now on the champ, and a kick-out.

For AJ, how does she win the title?

-Uh-oh, look at this.
-[Wade] Oh, here we go.

[Michael] Rolling up Becky,
and a kick-out.

[Wade] Well, what's the key to success
been for AJ when it comes to Becky Lynch?

Over the past six months,
it's been that Black Widow submission.

That is something
that I genuinely think lingers

in the mind of Becky Lynch.
And there's some real fear for Becky,

knowing full well
that if that gets locked in,

she's tapping out
and she's losing the gold.

[Michael] And Becky, who's had a tendency
as of late to get very frustrated

in the ring, has to hold
those emotions in check tonight,

-not let this crowd get under her skin.
-[crowd chanting "AJ Lee"]

[Wade] Well, I think Becky Lynch came

into this one thinking
it would be over by now.

It was gonna be two or three minutes
she was gonna rush AJ Lee.

AJ Lee has just not allowed
that to happen.

And now the frustration

about self-doubt kicking in
for Becky Lynch.

[Michael] Hammerlock and Becky Lynch
now writhing in pain.

And look at AJ Lee now
continuing the pressure, will Becky tap?

If she does, AJ wins the title.

[Wade] Well, tapping
into those technical skills

that she was so well-known for
her first time around in WWE

and now tying up Becky Lynch in knots.

[Michael] And Becky now turns it
into a hammerlock of her own.

Intercontinental Champion
sent outside the ring.

Remember, champion's advantage for Becky.
AJ must pin or tap Lynch to win the title.

Count outs, disqualifications,
well… doesn't help AJ at all.

[Wade] And that frustration
on the outside,

you saw Becky Lynch booting the hell
out of our security barrier.

And that skipping around the ring

from AJ Lee is not gonna help the mindset
of the Intercontinental champ.

[Michael] And Becky barking
at Jessika Carr,

who she calls the most crooked referee
in the history of WWE.

[Wade] A lot of people
call her "Fast Count Carr,"

has cost Becky Lynch championships before.

And who knows what she's up to
again tonight

and keeping a very close eye
on this referee who I simply do not trust.

And I know Becky Lynch
feels the exact same way.

[Michael] AJ Lee tried to go up
over the top, intercepted by Lynch.

-[Wade] Oh, wow!
-[Michael] And AJ, nice takedown.

-And now a dropkick to… to Becky.
-[crowd cheering]

[Wade] God, how crisp and nimble is AJ Lee
been in the early goings there?

-I certainly wasn't expecting that.
-[Michael] Oh!

[Wade] God, that changes everything.

[Michael] Well, uh, make…
make no mistake about it,

AJ's been training with her husband,
the world champ CM Punk

will be out here in a matter of moments
as Becky Lynch now.

-Rains down right hands.
-[speaks indistinctly]

[Wade] And that's what
you're talking about, training.

Training is great, training is important,
but these are live rounds now.

You never get drilled
at the same level in training

as you do when the spotlight's on
and gold is on the line.

[Michael] And especially with Becky,
who just has a little more malice

in every one of her punches to AJ Lee.
This has become so personal.

[Wade] Yeah, there's a lot of ego
on the line here.

Obviously, all the talk is
about the Intercontinental Championship,

which is-- Which is huge
in WrestleMania season.

But these are two women who, between them,
put women's wrestling where it is today.

-Who's gonna get the credit?
-[crowd jeering]

[Wade] Perhaps whoever wins
this match now.

So, there's a lot more
than just a championship riding on this.

[Michael] Well, there's no doubt
that Becky Lynch has already developed

a Hall of Fame resume in WWE,

and now she's mouthing off

to the over 19,000
in Chicago here tonight.

[Wade] That's what you can do
when you're in full control

-of an opponent like this.
-[indistinct chatter]

[Wade] They might not like it,
but there's nothing they can do about it.

-And getting ragged on now is Lee.
-[Michael] Come on.

-By Lynch to retain, hook the inside leg…
-[referee counts]

…and AJ kicked it too.
And again, Becky talking to herself a bit,

cannot allow frustration to creep in here.

[Wade] And this is something
Lee has talked about in the past.

She sees Lynch as an arro--
arrogant bully,

needs taking down a peg or two.

Whilst you may agree
with the first part of that,

taking Lynch down a peg or two
has proven to be incredibly difficult

for a lot of women in the locker room.

[Michael] I think a lot of people think
she's an arrogant bully.

-[crowd cheering]
-[Wade] She's also a champion though.

-[Michael] And…
-[Wade] And that supersedes any insult.

-…she's a conspiracy theorist.
-[Wade] Where's the conspiracy?

-[Michael] She makes things up.
-[Wade] No, she doesn't.

[Michael] You obviously don't follow her
on social media.

[Wade] Yes, I do.
I've subscribed to her Patreon too.

Get all the inside goss.
She also called you the biggest liar,

on the commentary table
and you've just proven her right.

-You won a Bexxie Award for it, correct?
-[Michael speaks indistinctly]

I… I didn't accept it.
And AJ now whipped into the corner

by Lynch who's having her way with AJ Lee.

[crowd booing]

[Michael] And Becky looking
for the death blow here.

AJ dropped in the corner,
Becky Lee now for the kick.

[Wade] And it's suddenly become

-all Becky Lynch…
-[Michael] Exploder!

Into the cover to retain…

-[referee] One, two…
-…the Intercontinental title.

And Becky's done a great job
taking this crowd out of the match.

[Wade] Yeah, they're in shock right now.

So, here's the problem,
hot right from the start was AJ Lee.

And when you have a lack of reps,
as AJ obviously does with ten years out,

suddenly you hit a brick wall
when it comes to your cardio…

-and conditioning, kind of thing…
-[crowd chanting "AJ Lee"]

…that simply cannot be helped
in training alone.

[Michael] And Becky now toying with AJ,
I'm not sure that's wise.

Oh. Ran right into her right hand.

AJ's trying to rally there,
and Becky Lynch stopped her in her tracks.

[crowd cheering]

[Wade] AJ is certainly
an emotionally volatile individual.

She says herself
she can be erratic at times.

And I think the provocation
might have lit a fire inside AJ here.

[Michael] I was gonna say,
"I don't think erratic is bad right now

against the Intercontinental Champion."
And here comes Lee.

AJ Lee unloading on Becky Lynch.
Here comes AJ.

Becky, though,
kicked right to the midsection.

And uppercuts now…

by Big Time Becks.

-AJ Lee, though, quickly off the ropes.
-[crowd cheering, applauding]

[Wade] Connected with a nice bulldog there
that has finally knocked

the steam out of Becky Lynch.

Question being, "Can AJ Lee find
some sort of reserve

to mount a major comeback
in this championship match?"

[Michael] Yeah, this is a critical moment
for AJ, allows her to reset,

-catch her breath a bit.
-[crowd applauding]

[Michael] Again, ring shape could be
an issue with AJ coming into this one.

[Wade] Well, she's got that frame
that is simply built

for speed and being elusive.

And that speed is starting
to come to the fore now,

finding a major second wind here.

[Michael] Yeah, picking up some momentum
into the corner though, Becky sidestepped.

This time she got caught,
went to the well once too often,

telegraphed that one,
AJ Lee stops Becky Lynch.

Now, Lee, from the second rope,
Tornado DDT to Lynch.

[Wade] Looks like AJ Lee has suddenly
got a major spark back. The…

[Michael] Shining Wizard,
Lee for the title!

-[crowd counting]
-[Michael] Becky kicks out!

[Wade] Well, that belief is now fully back
with AJ Lee, who almost won this thing.

This audience too starting to believe
that AJ can get this done.

[Michael] That Shining Wizard,
which was such an important part

of AJ's arsenal over the years…

almost took out Becky Lynch.

[crowd cheering, applauding]

[Michael] AJ sent to the corner,
Becky ducks underneath,

looking for the Manhandle Slam.
AJ though, able to counter,

-rolls into a pinning combination…
-[crowd counting]

…a kick-out by the champ at two.

-[referee] One, two…
-[Michael] Pin now on AJ Lee,

who's got a kick-out at two.

[Wade] Yeah, if this turns
into a chess game,

it may start to favor AJ Lee,
and it may-- Oh!

[Michael] Looking for the Black Widow,
but Becky Lynch countered.

-Cover for the win, to retain…
-One, two!

…and a kick-out at two.

[Wade] Well, clearly Becky Lynch
has been working on the reversals

to that Black Widow,
knowing full well the damage it holds.

And she's already tapped twice to it
over the past six months.

[crowd jeering]

[Michael] Becky,
is she getting frustrated, Wade?

-And look at this, Becky Lynch now…
-[crowd cheering]

-[Wade] Uh-oh.
-…exposing the steel turnbuckle.

[Wade] The referee missed
the entire thing there.

[Michael] While she was dealing with AJ,
she was doing her job, Wade.

And now AJ's set to the corner,
uh, averting disaster there.

-Oh!
-[Michael] Big kick.

[Wade] Knocks senseless,
now is Becky Lynch.

-[crowd cheering]
-[Michael] Face first goes Lynch.

[Wade] Certainly will not help matters.

Turns for AJ Lee
to really pick up the pace here.

[Michael] Oh, went up top
with Becky Lynch, the wily veteran.

[Wade] I mean, just such great instincts
from Becky Lynch.

She's got that unmatched finesse
and an extra level of aggression tonight

against her most hated rival.

[Michael] That's one reason
she's one of the all-time greats.

-Never ending debating that, superplex!
-[Wade] Oh.

-[Michael] And Becky now…
-[indistinct chatter]

…with an arm bar on AJ Lee.

And AJ now gonna try
to counter this smart move.

[Wade] Yeah.

-[referee] One, two…
-[Michael] And now rolls over Lynch,

forces to break off the pin.

Big kick by AJ, Becky may be out,
can AJ capitalize?

[Wade] Yeah, right on the temple,
but too much has been taken out of AJ Lee.

-[referee] One, two…
-[Michael] Cover now for Lee,

Becky survives it too.

[Wade] Yeah, just a groggy pin there
from AJ Lee,

who's had the stuffing knocked
out of her already.

Come pounce on the pin quick enough,
giving Lynch just enough time to kick out.

[Michael] And now
the official Jessika Carr…

realizing that the protective padding
has come off the turnbuckle,

gonna put it back on.

Oh, no, roll up by Becky!

Jessika Carr momentarily stunned.

[Wade] Momentarily stunned
led to slow count.

[Michael] Oh, no,
Becky just took out Jessika Carr.

-[Wade] Inadvertent Cole, don't spin that.
-[Michael] She didn't seem to give a damn.

And now AJ Lee with a Black Widow.
The Black Widow locked in on Becky Lynch.

[Michael] Becky's tapping,
Becky's tapping.

-[Wade] The ref doesn't see it though.
-[Michael] AJ should win the title.

[Wade] You know as well as I do,
that's not how it works.

But Becky Lynch may have her arm
snapped at that point.

That was locked in a long time.
Ref did not see it.

-Ref cannot give the call.
-[crowd booing]

[Michael] Well, AJ Lee should be
the Intercontinental Champion right now.

And now Becky
just attacking AJ from behind

as she went to check on the official.

[Wade] My God, this match completely
falling apart at the seams now.

There's no law, there's no authority
in this one at present.

[Michael] Yeah, this is right up
Becky's alley, Wade.

[crowd chanting "You tapped out"]

[Michael] And over 19,000
all over the champion.

[Wade] Shouting Becky Lynch,
"You tapped out."

Well, it doesn't count
if the referee doesn't see it.

It's all for naught
and this match is continuing.

And the championship has swung
back to the grasp

of Becky Lynch, at least for now.

[Michael] Becky glancing back
at her Intercontinental title

as she just beats up AJ Lee.

The official Jessika Carr is still down.

And AJ in trouble because Becky
can do whatever she wants now

with the official out.

[Wade] Well, technically we would have had
a tap out and a count out by now,

perhaps a double count out.

Maybe even a disqualification
the way this is going.

You can do whatever you want,
providing the ref is down.

[Michael] Becky sitting in a steel chair
in the ring as AJ Lee now

puts the fight back in this.

[Wade] That's a much needed fight back
from AJ Lee

given what no doubt Becky Lynch
was cooking up there.

[Michael] Becky driven into the barricade.

[Wade] I'll say a lot for the durability
and endurance of AJ Lee.

-We are now in seriously deep water.
-[Michael] Oh!

Yeah, AJ's so impressive here.

Sending Becky back into the ring.

[Wade] Just grimacing through the pain

but continuing to try
and grind out a result here.

[Michael] Back elbow by AJ.

Up now to the second rope, AJ. Oh!

-Connecting knee first with a steel chair.
-[Wade] Yeah, that was an ugly landing.

-Oh, God!
-[Michael] And now the DDT

planting AJ on the chair.
Becky gets rid of the evidence.

AJ may be out.

[Wade] The body of AJ Lee
is completely wrecked.

A fast-count Carr is coming round
just at the right time for the champ.

-[Michael] Manhandle Slam, the cover.
-[crowd] One, two…

-AJ kicked out!
-[crowd cheering]

And Becky can't believe it.

[crowd cheering]

[crowd chanting "AJ Lee"]

[Wade] And it might be starting
to dawn on the champ

that tonight is just
not your night, Becky Lynch.

[indistinct]

[Michael] And now AJ rolling up Becky,
and a kick-out at two.

Again, this rivalry between Lynch
and Jessika Carr…

Nice take down by AJ Lee, continues here.

[Wade] Both women
clinging on by a thread at this point,

looking completely rattled,
understandably.

[Michael] And Becky colliding
with the exposed turnbuckle,

the turnbuckle that Becky exposed.

Black Widow, center of the ring,
the referee's right there.

-[bell ringing]
-[Michael] Becky taps out,

-AJ wins the Intercontinental title.
-["Let's Light It Up" playing]

[Mark] Here is your winner by submission

and new Women's Intercontinental Champion,

-AJ Lee!
-[crowd cheering]

[Michael] Her first championship
in 11 years.

How sweet it is for AJ Lee.

[Wade] Well, this is how we got there.
One Manhandle Slam.

It's all over, right?
Chairs involved prior to this.

Unfathomably,
AJ Lee finding the will to kick out

and just when it looked
like AJ was going face first

into that exposed buckle,

referee Jessika Carr
put the brakes on that one.

Great pin attempt, and then this charge

from Becky Lynch
straight into said exposed buckle,

followed by, once again,

old faithful, the one
that's done so much damage

to Becky Lynch,
the Black Widow, the tap out,

and AJ Lee picks up
the Intercontinental Championship

on The Road to WrestleMania.

[Michael] Not once, not twice,
but three times in less than six months,

AJ Lee taps out Becky Lynch

and tonight it earns her
the Intercontinental Championship.

Ladies and gentlemen,
coming up next,

the conquering hero returns home.

CM Punk defends
the World Heavyweight Championship

against the man who claims

he's gonna shake up WrestleMania,
Finn Bálor. It's live and it's next.

["Catch Your Breath" playing]

Finn Bálor is the man that says
he will turn the main event

at WrestleMania, slated to be
CM Punk versus Roman Reigns.

One of the greatest WrestleMania
main events of all time,

Finn says he's gonna turn that upside down
when he wins the championship tonight.

He's made it very clear, Wade.

And Finn wants to do it alone.

I saw Judgement Day members
JD McDonagh and Dominik Mysterio

in the building earlier today.

But Finn Bálor promises he needs
to do this himself tonight.

-[Wade] Do you believe that?
-[Michael] Yes.

[Wade] I actually
don't believe that at all.

I think that's merely
a strategy to get Punk

to drop his guard,
keep the champ guessing.

And I'll be honest with you right now,
you have two choices

at the very top of this game,
you can be a noble loser

or you can be a cheating champion.

And I know full well
which one I would pick.

[crowd cheering]

[Michael] Bálor, who battled Punk
in his homeland of Ireland,

Belfast, Northern Ireland,
back in January.

It was a home game for Bálor then.
Tonight, he's the away team.

You know, we already crowned
one new men's champion this week.

Congratulations to Myles Borne
down at NXT.

He won the NXT North American title.

Can Finn Bálor secure
a world title tonight?

-[music fades]
-[crowd cheering]

[crowd chanting "CM Punk"]

[crowd cheering]

-["Sirius" playing]
-[crowd screaming]

[Ray] And now, making his way to the ring.

A 6'1 World Heavyweight Champion,

from Chicago.

He is the Second City Saint.

He is the best in the world.

-CM Punk!
-[crowd cheering]

[Michael] Some nostalgia
from the Jordan-era Bulls,

voiced by the iconic PA announcer,

Ray Clay.

-[music fades]
-[crowd chanting "CM Punk"]

-["Cult of Personality" playing]
-[crowd cheering]

[crowd cheering]

[crowd singing] ♪ Look in my eyes
What do you see? ♪

♪ The cult of personality ♪

♪ I know your anger, I know your dreams ♪

♪ I've been everything you want to be ♪

♪ Oh, I'm the cult of personality ♪

♪ Like Mussolini and Kennedy ♪

♪ I'm the cult of personality ♪

♪ The cult of personality
The cult of personality… ♪

-It's clobberin' time!
-[crowd cheering]

♪ Neon lights, a Nobel prize ♪

♪ When a mirror speaks
The reflection lies ♪

♪ You won't have to follow me ♪

♪ Only you can set me free ♪

♪ I sell the things you need to be ♪

-♪ I'm the smiling face on your TV ♪
-[crowd shouting indistinctly]

♪ Oh, I'm the cult of personality ♪

♪ I exploit you, still you love me ♪

♪ I tell you, one and one makes three ♪

♪ Oh, I'm the cult of personality ♪

♪ Like Joseph Stalin and Gandhi ♪

♪ I'm the cult of personality ♪

♪ The cult of personality
The cult of personality ♪

♪ Neon lights, a Nobel prize ♪

♪ When a leader speaks, that leader dies ♪

♪ You won't have to follow me ♪

♪ Only you can set you free… ♪

[crowd cheering]

[crowd chanting "CM Punk"]

[music fades]

[bell ringing]

The following contest is scheduled

-for one fall…
-[crowd chanting "One fall"]

…and is for
the World Heavyweight Championship!

[crowd cheering]

Introducing first, the challenger
from Bray, County Wicklow, Ireland,

weighing in at 190 pounds,

Representing The Judgment Day,

-Finn Bálor!
-[crowd cheering]

And his opponent, from Chicago, Illinois.

[crowd cheering]

He is the World Heavyweight Champion,

-CM Punk!
-[crowd chanting "CM Punk"]

[Michael] It has been a long time coming.

Thirteen long years since CM Punk
has had a WWE match

-in his hometown of Chicago.
-[crowd continues chanting "CM Punk"]

[Michael] Punk understands
that Father Time is undefeated.

He understands that this could be
the very last match

that he ever has in his career,
here in United Center.

And he says, tonight,
he is going to savor it all

as he defends
the World Heavyweight Championship

against a very hungry Finn Bálor,

who wants to turn the main event
at WrestleMania upside down.

You know,
I talked to Bálor, earlier today.

He told me that he needs to take the crowd
out of this match early on.

-He learned way back in Belfast…
-[bell ringing]

…what a crowd can do to you.
The momentum and the emotion

that you can feed off
when it comes to the hometown crowd.

He says he needs to take that crowd
out of this match early on tonight.

-[crowd chanting "CM Punk"]
-[Wade] Yeah, I get that.

And already right off the bat,

trying to charge up
CM Punk is this audience.

But let me just make it abundantly clear

to insulated Americans,
a lot of the international superstars,

they're used to these environments.

We spend most of our career
competing on foreign soil,

and in Finn's case, most of his career
either in Japan or here in the US.

This will not faze Finn Bálor
in the slightest.

[Michael] You know, CM Punk's
been pissed off as of late, Wade.

All the questions coming his way
over the past few weeks

of why would you take this match?

Why would you endanger
one of the greatest main events

in WrestleMania history
against Roman Reigns?

Well, what does Punk do?
He doesn't back down from a fight.

Instead, he always doubles down.

He says he wants to be
a fighting champion.

[Wade] Yeah, I'm split on that.

I respect the fact
that he sees it as his responsibility

as the World Heavyweight Champ
to prove against anyone,

anytime that he is the champ.

However, we know full well
how much Punk wants a win,

and I'll emphasize "win,"
in the main event of WrestleMania.

Lose tonight, you're not even getting
a chance at that, pal.

[Michael] Yeah,
full nelson applied by Bálor,

and now, Punk into a pinning combination
and a kick-out at two.

Into a side headlock now.

You know, Finn Bálor
actually credits CM Punk,

and some of the talks that they had
leading up to that match in Belfast,

for quote, "Awakening,
reawakening, a killer instinct"

that was dominant for too long in Bálor.

And here's the kick out again by Punk.

[Wade] Yeah, and we were speaking
a little earlier today, Cole,

and you were asking me
about what Finn Bálor

might have learned in that first match.

And I think the entire demeanor of Bálor,
when he entered here today,

you can read it on his body.
He is completely relaxed. Why?

Because he proved in Belfast,
that he can hang at the very top level

with a World Heavyweight Champion
in this day and age.

It's been a long time
since he proven that to himself.

He is a completely different man.

If there were any doubts in the head
of Bálor going into that match in Belfast,

they've all disappeared today.

[Michael] And again, Wade,
listen to how quiet it is right now

inside the United Center.
Bálor doing what he promised to do,

-not allow this crowd into this match.
-[crowd applauding]

[Wade] And that fires up Bálor more,

and what does it do
to the mindset of CM Punk?

He expects a raucous atmosphere,

-something goes deathly silent in here.
-[Michael exclaims]

That'll wake him up a bit
as Punk delivers a heel kick to the face.

Now, Bálor's hungry as well, Wade.

It's been ten long years
since Bálor has held a world title.

He was the inaugural Universal Champion,

and remember,
he only held that title for 24 hours.

[Wade] Yeah,
and the butterfly effect of that incident

-you're talking about can be…
-[Michael exclaims]

…speculated about nonstop ad infinitum.
Where would Finn Bálor's career have gone

over the last ten years
had he not been stripped

of that championship
because of the injury?

[Michael] Punk cover, and Bálor kicks out.

You expect this pace
early on in the match?

[Wade] You know what? I thought,

Bálor was gonna come hot
out of the blocks.

You mentioned the age of Punk.
He's no spring chicken, obviously.

He is fighting against Father Time,
and that is something as somebody

like Finn Bálor,
who is renowned for his endurance,

needs to use to his advantage.

So, if I was Bálor,
I personally wanna pick up the pace here.

[Michael] Senior official, Chad Patton,

working this World Heavyweight
Championship match.

-Again, the winner will defend against…
-[Wade exclaims]

…the Royal Rumble winner Roman Reigns,
seven weeks at WrestleMania.

[Wade] And here we go, this is exactly
what I was talking about from Bálor.

He's not as big as CM Punk,

but he's ready to throw fists
in the early goings here.

There was a technical start to the match,

but that's got thrown
out of the window now.

[Michael] Of course, Wade,
the United Center,

the home of the beloved NHL Blackhawks,
Punk's favorite team.

-[crowd shouting indistinctly]
-[Michael] And does Punk wanna turn this

into a hockey fight tonight against Bálor?

[Wade] I mean, you'll win by hook
or by crook, but if it is a hockey fight,

I think that probably favors CM Punk.

He does have, probably,
25 pounds on Finn Bálor.

[Michael] And now, Punk after delivering
the elbow to the face of Bálor.

[crowd cheering, applauding]

[crowd counting]

[Michael] And look at Bálor now,
nice switch by Finn,

drops Punk to the mat.

[Wade] Probably, tweaked something
in his rib cage, that was a nasty landing.

-And if he did, zeroing…
-[Michael] That won't help.

…zeroing in on it is Finn Bálor.

So, sixth sense for an injury
on an opponent's body,

and at this level,

with the World Championship
hanging in the balance,

that is a massive asset for the Irishman.

[Michael] Can you imagine
if Bálor wins tonight?

He turns Mania upside down in a,
listen, it's… it's WrestleMania season,

anything can happen as Bálor now,
delivers a stomp to Punk,

weakening up the midsection
for the Coup de Grâce.

[Wade] Well, Finn Bálor is sick
of being labeled an underachiever.

He does feel at times like management,
in a way, lost faith in him

when he had that injury ten years ago

-as a brief world champion.
-[crowd chanting "CM Punk"]

[Wade] And this is one way
to stick it up to management,

ripping away their dream matchup
at WrestleMania

between Punk and Roman Reigns.

[Michael] Bálor's got a five count here,
again working the rib cage.

And a kick to CM Punk,
great strategy here by Bálor.

[Michael] Not only slow Punk down,
but as I mentioned before,

soften him up for your finishing blow.

[Wade] Yeah, and here's why you know

that initial tweak
in the rib cage of Punk was bad.

You do all you can to hide
any form of weakness from your opponent.

Punk was trying his best to,
he simply couldn't.

The tell was there immediately,

and Bálor is now all over
that weakness like a rash.

[Michael] Yeah, Bálor doing a great job,
physically wearing Punk down.

[Wade] And this is the belief

that is starting to grow
in Finn Bálor now.

And it's the belief
that is starting to dissipate

from this partisan crowd here in Chicago.

[Michael] Punk has had
a great career in Chicago.

He won his
Intercontinental Championship here

when he beat William Regal back in 2009.

Who would ever forget
the great Street Fight

with Chris Jericho here in Chicago.

And how about 2011, Wade,

the night that CM Punk defeated John Cena
to win the Championship

in one of the most iconic moments
in WWE history.

[Wade] Yeah,
blowing that kiss to John Cena,

Championship in hand as he left the arena,

one of the most iconic shots
in wrestling history.

-Oh, God!
-[Michael] Abdominal stretch, again,

working on the midsection of CM Punk.

You see Punk screaming in pain here.

A tap out by Punk
would give the title to Bálor.

[Wade] Yeah, Punk has
a very high pain tolerance,

but barely, barely able
to conceal the sheer agony

that he's in right now
with Bálor attacking with abandon.

And I'm not sure Bálor has even
got out of third gear at this point.

That's the scary part.

What a predicament here

for the World Heavyweight Champion,
CM Punk.

[crowd chanting "CM Punk"]

[Michael]
Crowd trying to rally against Punk,

who's got a bad taste in his mouth
after last year's Elimination Chamber

when he was in the Chamber match.
And it was down to him and Cena,

and a Seth Rollins' stomp
handed the match to John Cena.

[Wade] Bad taste
from Elimination Chamber perhaps,

and even worse taste
from last year's WrestleMania.

We all remember how that went down,

getting stabbed in the back
by Paul Heyman.

That's why he's so desperate to get back
to the showcase of the immortals,

and set the record straight this year
in the main event.

[Michael] Yeah, but Punk
has really turned things around,

not counting the night
that Rollins cashed in on Punk

at SummerSlam.

Punk has not lost a one-on-one match
since late spring of 2025.

And now Bálor taking the fight to Punk

for the World Heavyweight Championship.

The main event at WrestleMania
hangs in the balance here tonight.

[crowd cheers]

[crowd boos]

[crowd cheers]

[crowd boos]

[crowd cheers]

[crowd boos]

[Wade] And it's just so easy for Bálor
to knock the stuffing out of Punk here,

but Punk resolute.

[crowd cheers]

[Michael]
And Punk trying to rally a bit here.

An elbow followed by a clothesline.

[Wade] Well, now suddenly
he's got Finn reeling.

Finn Bálor has been knocked
for a loop by Punk.

And Punk now ratcheting up
through the gears.

-The belief is back here.
-[crowd cheers]

[Michael] This match is physical
as those great 1990's

Bulls teams here tonight.

And Punk now back to his feet.

And he's got Finn in position for a GTS.

Finn, though, able to slide behind.

And now sending Finn out to the floor.

Here comes CM Punk.

Punk now with a suicide dive,

driving Bálor right into our table!

[Wade] Yeah, Punk going high risk
at the right time,

and the lower back of Finn Bálor
absorbing all of that abuse from our desk.

[Michael]
And this is important for Punk here.

It buys him a lot of time, Wade,

to try to recover from what's been
a banged up midsection.

[Wade] Yeah, I'm not sure
time is gonna help.

That's one of those injuries
that kinda gets worse and worse

as the match goes on.

Punk, for my money,
needs to finish this and finish it quick.

[Michael] That's why he sends Bálor back
into the ring.

Punk, a proud man,
he doesn't wanna take a count out win.

He wants to pin Bálor
in his hometown here tonight.

CM Punk, top rope.

Punk, off the top rope
with a flying clothesline.

-Cover now by Punk to retain.
-[crowd counting]

And a kick-out.
If you're Roman Reigns, right,

and you're watching this match tonight,

who do you wanna face at WrestleMania,
or does it matter?

[Wade] I don't think Roman Reigns fears
any man in this industry.

He wants all comers, bring 'em on,
we'll make it as big as possible.

All he cares about is the gold,

and that gold might be
coming the way of CM Punk right now.

[Michael] Looking for a GTS,
Bálor now from behind.

Finn Bálor who actually…

Into the cover, hook to the leg on Punk.

And a kick-out.
Bálor actually owns a victory

over Roman Reigns
in the not so distant past.

And of course,
we know the history and the rivalry

between Punk and Reigns.

[Wade] Well, victories over Roman Reigns
are a collector's item in this industry.

So, if Finn Bálor has
some history with Reigns

and it's a positive history,

even more reason why Finn needs
to get the job done here tonight.

[Michael] And Punk dragging himself
to his feet.

Bálor, again, working the midsection.

This has been a great strategy by Bálor.

[Wade]
Well, you take gifts when they arrive.

-Oh!
-[Michael] Oh!

[Wade] Nasty shot there to CM Punk there.

You take gifts when they arrive
in this game,

and whatever strategy Finn had
coming into the match,

immediately he had to pivot
once Punk tweaked that rib cage.

-But wait up.
-[Michael] Into position,

Finn Bálor trying to hang on.

Punk looking to hit the Go To Sleep here.

Went for it, Bálor rolls him up,
small package, is it enough?

And a kick-out by Punk.

Punk dips underneath.

There's that patented
swinging neckbreaker by Punk.

Cover to retain.

Kick-out at two by Bálor.

[Wade]
And Punk just keeps finding answers.

I mean, go back to SummerSlam last year
with that epic matchup with Gunther

that looked completely unwinnable
for about 98% of it.

Punk just hung in there,
and hung in there,

and hung in there, showed his toughness,

showed his resolve,
and got the dub in the end.

[Michael] And it's been the story
over the last month, of course,

the win over Bron Breakker,
the win over Finn Bálor,

the win over AJ Styles.

Punk has been a fighting Champion
as we head into WrestleMania season.

But, will his luck run out tonight?

[Wade] Both men in bad shape
at this point in the matchup.

That's when you realize
it is close to the death here perhaps.

Both men must sense victory.

They know their opponent
is in a badly weakened state.

[Michael] Yeah, Punk now, nice block.

Bálor was looking for a suplex there,
and Punk drives him into the corner

with a big forearm.

And boxing the ears of Bálor.

Punk, again, is gonna have to
dig down deep to retain tonight.

[Wade] Trying his best
to use that power advantage

that has definitely been sacked
from that rib injury.

[Michael] And Bálor, again,
going back to the midsection.

[Wade] You don't change
your winning formula in this game.

That's where all the success
has come from for Bálor.

He's smart enough to know that. Oh, God.

[Michael] And Punk collapsing, and wisely,
the veteran trying to roll away,

but he's still in the drop zone.

Finn Bálor from the top rope now
has Punk in his sights.

Went for the Coup de Grâce,
Punk rolled out of harm's way.

And now Punk with a running knee,

and I believe Punk's been busted open
in the mouth.

As Bálor is floored with a clothesline.

[Wade] Well, that busted open mouth
is the least of Punk's worries.

That rib cage is where
the real damage lies.

[Wade] But it might be for nothing here
if Punk can connect on this.

[crowd cheering, applauding]

[Michael] Oh, yeah, the elbow from Punk,
but again, the midsection giving in.

[Wade] Well, that was exactly
what takes the brunt

of the landing for CM Punk.

No cover, no ability to pounce
on a quick three count here.

-It's in fact a slow three count.
-[referee] One, two…

[Michael] Bálor to turn it
into a pinning combination of his own,

-and two and a half.
-[Wade] So much-- Oh, God.

[Michael] Sling blade by Bálor.

[Wade] So much zapped out of CM Punk
at this point in the matchup.

[Michael] Bálor's just a step quicker
right now, Wade.

[Wade] He has to be.

And that blood coming
from the mouth of Punk.

Bálor senses victory,
he's got gold in his eyes now.

[Michael]
Punk looks spent, physically spent.

And Punk, though,
exploding out of the corner.

[Wade] Just a veteran move
by Punk there, taking a beat.

[Michael] Or was it desperate?

[Wade] No, it's taking a beat,
a beat to get his senses together,

knowing full well
Finn was lining something up.

And what a battle
we've got going on here.

-[Michael] And Punk now--
-[Wade] Oh, hold on.

[Michael] Looking for the Anaconda Vice
now on Bálor.

First it was the Sharpshooter,
now looking for the Anaconda Vice.

He's got it in on Finn Bálor now.
Submission move, center of the ring.

Is Bálor gonna tap now to the Vice?

[Wade] You're like a long way
from the ropes here,

that hand is nowhere near,

that hand is looking
like it's gonna tap out.

[Michael] Bálor trying to hang on,
and Bálor able to roll through,

turns it into a pinning combination
of his own, and a kick-out by Punk.

[grunts]

[Michael] That's something Bálor learned
from their battle

back in Belfast last month,
how to counter the Anaconda Vice.

[Wade] You have to be merciless
at this level.

Forget that you are fighting
a human being here.

This is your mortal enemy
right now, Finn.

[grunts]

[Michael] Punk-- Up and down goes Punk.

Now he's in position.
This could be Bálor's opportunity

to alter the entire landscape
of WrestleMania.

Bálor from the top rope
into a Coup de Grâce.

He connects to the bad ribs of Punk.

-Cover by Bálor, hooks the leg.
-[crowd counting]

[Michael] Punk survives.

And now,
what does Bálor do, Wade?

[Wade] What a gutsy kick out from CM Punk.

The cogs are now whirring
in the mind of Finn Bálor,

who thought he was home and dry.

[crowd chanting "CM Punk"]

[Michael] Bálor just hit his death blow
and Punk survived.

[Wade] Finn Bálor
staring at the entranceway.

[Michael] Wait a minute.

We mentioned that JD and Dom are here.

Do you think-- Well, again,
he promised to do it on his own.

Maybe a thought ran
through his head momentarily.

[Wade] Well, clearly torn at that point.

No sign of the reinforcements as of yet.
Oh, wait up.

[Michael] And Punk now
powering Finn Bálor up into a position

for the Go To Sleep.
Go To Sleep to the face,

but Bálor was driven out
of the ring with his momentum.

And Punk now realizes.

that the win may have slipped away.

[Wade] Well, that complete indecision
momentarily

from Finn Bálor opened
a tiny window, a tiny window

that the World Heavyweight champ CM Punk
was happy to kick through.

Unfortunately, he kicked
through a little too hard.

And no chance of a cover,
but there may be a count out here.

-[crowd counting]
-[Michael] Count of five now, and again,

I told you Punk does not
want a count out victory.

He wants a decisive win
heading into WrestleMania,

and Bálor with a sling blade.

[Wade] Well, that's a heavy, heavy landing
on the outside of the ring.

Those are thin pads over concrete here.

The ribs of CM Punk absorbing
all of that impact.

[crowd cheering]

[Michael] And Bálor now,
shades of a decade ago,

this time he drives Punk to a barricade.

Is this his moment?

[Wade] Laser focused on the gold,

laser focused on the broken body
of CM Punk.

Now laser focused on getting him back
in the ring and getting the three count.

[Michael] Tossing the dead carcass
of Punk back into the ring.

Finn Bálor could be closing in
on the World Heavyweight title.

Though Punk went
for the Go To Sleep again,

Bálor with another sling blade.
Again, Bálor a step quicker in this match.

[Wade] Right now,
CM Punk is swinging at whatever he can,

and he's missing.

And it's all in the corner now
of Finn Bálor, and once again

in that drop zone, take two is CM Punk.

[Michael] Punk survived once,
will he survive a second time?

Bálor from the top rope,
went for the Coup de Grâce.

Punk got his foot up, and he turns it now.
Punk turns it around into a…

into a sharpshooter?

[Wade] He's trying, he's got it.
The sharpshooter's in.

[crowd cheering, applauding]

[Michael] Remember the sharpshooter
in Chicago many,

many years ago at WrestleMania?

CM Punk now with a sharpshooter
locked into Bálor.

[Wade] Oh, God, all of the agony
on the lower back of Bálor.

Bálor managing somehow
to break that hold.

Man, that was a great counter by Punk.

[Wade] That was incredible,
instinctive move there,

catching a flying Finn Bálor
and almost getting the victory.

[Michael] Now we're gonna
step through again,

Bálor again playing defense here.

What a physical battle…

between these two.

[Wade] When the World Heavyweight
Championships on the line

in WrestleMania season,
you are going to war for it.

It is worth it.
That's how big this prize is.

[Michael] Remember,
Roman Reigns will be live

in Indianapolis Monday night on Raw
to confront the winner of this match.

Will it be Punk?

Will it be Bálor
to face Reigns at WrestleMania?

[Wade] Will either of these two men
be capable of going to Raw at this rate?

-Bloody battered and broken.
-[crowd chanting "CM Punk"]

-[Wade] But refusing to die off.
-[Michael] And now Punk

with Bálor up on his shoulders,
CM Punk Go To Sleep.

-GTS, cover, Punk…
-[crowd counting]

-[Michael] …the main event, WrestleMania.
-[bell ringing]

[Ray] Here is your winner

and still World Heavyweight Champion,

CM Punk.

[Michael] Their first face to face
on Monday Night Raw was explosive.

We can only imagine what's
in store in 48 hours…

when Punk and Reigns come face
to face again.

Because Wade, the stage is set

for one of the biggest main events
in the history of WrestleMania.

Seven weeks, 49 sleeps away

from CM Punk and Roman Reigns
for the World Heavyweight title.

[Wade] And this is how we got there.

Finn Bálor connecting
with that Coup de Grâce.

But somehow, CM Punk refusing
to be denied in that moment.

A broken CM Punk still having the belief.

And then connecting with a GTS
that blasted Bálor so hard

he rolled all the way out of the ring,

but followed him up with this
through our security barrier.

And now, laser focused on that goal.

This is what Finn came for,
but one mistake.

And that was all CM Punk needed
to hoist him up for another GTS.

This time,
a fortuitous landing for the champ.

And three counts later,
a successful retention

and CM Punk heads to WrestleMania.

[Michael] What a great performance
by Finn Bálor tonight,

promised to do it on his own.
He did just that.

But in the end, it has become a trademark

of CM Punk's
current World Championship reign.

It is the guts, it is the grit,
it is the resilience

that has made
that man the best in the world.

["Cult of Personality" playing]

♪ Neon lights, a Nobel prize ♪

♪ When a leader speaks, that leader dies ♪

♪ You won't have to follow me ♪

♪ Only you can set you free ♪

[crowd cheering, applauding]

[Michael] I mean, what a show of respect
from a true warrior in Finn Bálor,

who over the past couple of months
has really earned the respect of CM Punk.

[Wade] Respectful in defeat,
magnanimous in victory,

And now a double celebration
from a couple of champs.

What a night it has been for CM Punk

and the new Women's
Intercontinental champ, AJ Lee.

[Michael] Yeah, a case can be made.
as the new power couple of WWE.

What a night in Chicago,

the adopted hometown of AJ Lee,
the hometown, of course, of CM Punk.

And now we turn our attention to Las Vegas

and WrestleMania,
CM Punk versus Roman Reigns.

[Wade] I think the world
has been begging for that matchup

for years and years,
but we are now there, Cole.

Cannot wait seven weeks' time in Vegas.

It is gonna be gangbusters
at WrestleMania.

[Michael] And, Wade, you and I
are gonna have the opportunity

to sit at ringside in seven weeks.

And call two of the greatest
of this generation,

maybe two of the greatest of all time.

This match is personal,
it is a grudge match for these two,

and it is about the World
Heavyweight Championship.

And many celebrities enjoying
this night tonight,

including UFC fighter, Michael Chandler
from the lightweight division.

Giannis is here,

two-time NBA MVP,
current board for the Milwaukee Bucks.

Please, Giannis, please come to New York,

please come to the Garden,
please, please, please.

And Lil Yachty, my guy,

the Grammy-nominated rapper and singer,
Lil Yachty, here tonight.

[Wade] Does he know he's your guy?

-[Michael] Yeah, he does.
-[Wade] He's ashamed of that.

[crowd cheering, applauding]

[crowd cheering]

[Michael] Well, this is
the Elimination Chamber match

on the women's side of things,
earlier tonight.

Raquel Rodriguez
with a standout performance.

[Wade] What a car crash it was from here,
Tiffany Stratton double teaming,

Big Mami Cool,
Raquel down for the count here.

And then there were two,
but Rhea Ripley not to be denied.

Denying that moonsault
and then nailing one Riptide

-to book her spot at WrestleMania…
-[crowd counting]

-…in a showdown…
-[bell ringing]

…with the WWE Women's Champ,
The Storm, Jade Cargill.

-The Storm is coming to Vegas.
-[Mark] …2026.

[Michael] It is set for WrestleMania,
two of the most powerful women

in WWE today.

Jade Cargill defending the WWE Women's
Championship against Rhea Ripley.

[crowd cheering]

[Michael] Is that… is that a coffin?

["The Danhausen Show" playing]

[crowd cheering, applauding]

[Michael] Oh, boy.

Did Danhausen just give me teeth?

[Wade] Yeah, you're at that age now,

It's your first set of dentures,
Michael Cole. Congratulations.

[song concludes]

[crowd cheering, applauding]

Wade, what the hell was that?

Well, I know that Danhausen
is a little off-kilter,

but these teeth aren't even clean.
They've got bits of parsley in them.

Are they-- Do you think they're real?

Well, God, I somehow need
to recover from that

because, coming up next,
it is our main event.

Who's gonna go to WrestleMania
to face Drew McIntyre

for the WWE Championship?
The Chamber Match is next.

[epic music playing]

[crowd cheering]

[bell ringing]

[Mark] The following
is the Men's Elimination Chamber Match!

Two superstars start in the ring.
Four superstars in individual pods.

A random pod door opens
at regularly scheduled intervals

until all pods are empty.

Superstars are eliminated
by pinfall or submission.

The last superstar standing
will be declared the winner

and go on to challenge
the undisputed WWE Champion,

Drew McIntyre at WrestleMania 42.

["Locked In" playing]

[crowd cheering, applauding]

[crowd chanting "Whoop that trick"]

-["Locked In" playing]
-[crowd chanting "Whoop that trick"]

[Mark] Introducing first, from Columbia,

South Carolina, weighing in at 240 pounds,

-Trick Williams!
-[crowd chanting "Whoop that trick"]

[Michael] The man who has taken
Friday Night SmackDown by storm.

He beat Carmelo Hayes
and Damian Priest to qualify

for the Elimination Chamber Match.

And Trick Williams' weight has
had some success here in Chicago.

He beat Ethan Page
for the NXT Championship back in 2024

when CM Punk was a special guest referee.

[Wade] Yeah, there's a whole lot
of strengths to Trick Williams,

but the biggest strength of all for him
has to be this innate confidence.

There is no stage too big,
there is no spotlight too bright.

What a moment it would be for Trick Willie
to book his ticket for Mania.

[crowd chanting "Whoop that trick"]

[Michael]
The man does not look intimidated…

at all.

-[Wade] Yeah, this isn't normal.
-[crowd chanting "Whoop that trick"]

[Michael] Quite the aura
surrounding this young man.

[crowd chanting "Whoop that trick"]

[Michael] Just oozing confidence.

[crowd cheering]

[Wade] Looks like a man that has done
this dance ten times before.

Completely nothing phasing Trick Williams.

That is a guy destined for the very top.

But how soon is that top coming
for Trick Williams?

[Michael] He will be locked inside a pod.

[crowd chanting "Whoop that trick"]

[Michael] First time ever testing out
the Elimination Chamber.

-[music concludes]
-[crowd cheering]

-["Welcome To LA" playing]
-[crowd cheering]

[Mark] Next, from Los Angeles, California,

weighing in at 240 pounds, LA Knight!

[crowd cheering]

[Michael] The sentimental favorite
here tonight, LA Knight enters the chamber

for the second time in his career.

He knocked off
The Vision's Austin Theory and Penta

to qualify for this match tonight.

And you think
Trick Williams has confidence?

What about LA Knight?

[Wade] Man, what an energy battle that is
between these two from this crowd.

The roof lifted off
when Trick Willie entered.

And it might have now gone off to orbit

because The Megastar is here in Chicago
and he's looking to take it all.

[Michael] Tonight will be locked in a pod.

to start this match.

[Wade] Yeah, and these are the entrances
you really wanna be a part of,

these first four,
because you know from there,

you've at least got the jump

on the two guys
that were gonna start this thing.

[Michael]
Did you ever start the chamber match?

[Wade] Yes, I did.
Guess what, I didn't win.

I also was in a pod once,
and I still didn't win.

[Michael] Story of your career.

I'ma be right here when you need me.

I'ma be right here.

[music concludes]

[Wade]
Still trying to figure that part out.

["Still Humble" playing]

[Mark] Next, accompanied by
WWE Hall of Famer, the Oracle,

Paul Heyman and Austin Theory
from Dorado, Puerto Rico,

by way of Cleveland, Ohio,
weighing in at 220 pounds,

-The Maverick, Logan Paul!
-[Michael] A lot to break down here.

First off, last night
on Friday Night SmackDown,

Jey Uso, who was supposed
to be in this spot in the chamber,

was attacked by an unknown assailant,

not medically cleared
to be a part of this tonight.

So, General Manager Nick Aldis
made a match for the Main Event,

Logan Paul versus Jacob Fatu.
The winner would qualify tonight.

Well, there was some shenanigans.

That masked man who's been trying
to take out The Vision for weeks

actually was unmasked by Logan Paul.
And it was nobody.

[Wade] Yeah, and I'll say right now,
that was an ineffective attack

in the first place from the Masked Man.
And I've got to think that is a copycat.

I've not heard anything official.
We'll wait to see for sure.

[Michael] And then later on in the match,
Drew McIntyre would once again

stick his nose where it didn't belong,

obviously concerned that he'd have to face
Jacob Fatu at WrestleMania.

What does he do? He takes out Fatu,
he hands the match to Logan Paul.

[Wade] Yeah, and I saw Gia
and Nick Aldis last night.

He was bursting with rage with Drew

and he said
there will be severe consequences

coming the way of the WWE champ.

[Michael] But Logan Paul,
he's got experience inside the chamber.

This is the third straight year
he's been a part of this matchup.

He's been a part of the chamber
inside the ring

-for nearly an hour overall.
-[Wade] Well, 24 hours ago,

he had no idea
he was gonna be competing in this match.

Not only is he competing in it,
he's also in a pod.

That's an advantageous position to be in.

♪ I hear voices in my head
They council me, they understand ♪

♪ They talk to me ♪

["Voices" playing]

[Michael] We now know the final man
in the pod in the chamber,

and we know the two men will start.

♪ …rules and your religion
All designed to keep… ♪

[Mark] Next, from St. Louis, Missouri,

weighing in 280 pounds,

The Viper, Randy Orton!

[Michael] You know, Wade,
Randy Orton sets a record tonight,

entering his tenth
Elimination Chamber match in his career.

He won one back in 2014
when he retained the World Championship.

He has eight career eliminations,
second all time. And listen to this,

"If Randy Orton lasts
more than four minutes in this match,

he will shatter John Cena's record
for the most time ever spent

in Elimination Chamber matches
in their career."

[Wade] Yeah, that is a true veteran.

Very little throws The Viper
off his game at this point,

although I will mention
that in recent weeks on SmackDown,

Randy Orton has had numerous problems
with a certain, Aleister Black.

Now, Aleister Black has been trying
to get into the head of The Viper,

implying that Randy now
lacks the killer instinct

at this point in his career
to put down a longtime friend,

such as a Cody Rhodes,

who is also gonna be in this match
with The Viper.

Will be very interesting
if those two are

in the ring at the same point
at some time in this match.

[Michael] Randy Orton's
had quite the history in Chicago.

Back in 2010,
he won the WWE Championship here,

won the World Heavyweight title
here in Chicago back in 2007.

As Mr. Heyman stares at us here.

-[Wade] I don't wanna--
-[Michael] Stares at you?

[Wade] Stares at you, I don't offend
Mr. Heyman, you regularly do.

[Michael] Austin Theory out here as well.

And remember, The Vision has fallen
on hard times as of late.

Bron Breakker, of course,
out of action after surgery.

And Bronson Reed needs surgery
as well for a torn biceps.

[Wade] Fortune's perhaps now
turning around,

thanks to Logan's qualification,
decimated by some bad luck.

That will all change tonight
if Logan is victorious,

but The Viper now staring down
the newcomer, Trick Williams.

They've had some issues over
on SmackDown these past several weeks.

Of course,
clashed at Saturday Night's Main Event

a few weeks ago, too, in that 4-Way.

-♪ I hear voices in my head… ♪
-[Michael] You mentioned it.

There's been a lot of question,
and it's irked Randy Orton to no end.

This deep into his career,
is The Viper still the apex predator?

Does he still have
the killer instinct when needed?

You know, Wade,
when you're here a long time,

complacency starts to creep in.

But Randy Orton has a goal, right?
He's a 14-time world champion.

He's within striking distance
of John Cena's record 17 titles.

He's tied with Triple H,
the third most of all time

and that is what drives Orton
this late in his career.

[Wade] Yeah, there's no slowing down
either for The Viper,

but that is a man
who has consistently said

he wants to last ten more years
here in WWE,

and you have to think
with that kind of timeline,

Randy Orton absolutely has it in his power

to be the number one
world championship winner in history.

♪ I taste blood that’s drying
I feel tension rising ♪

♪ I hear voices in my head
They council me, they understand ♪

♪ They talk to me, they talk to me… ♪

[Michael]
Randy Orton taking his sweet time.

Make them wait.

Oh, I thought that was Danhausen
for a second. [laughing]

[music concludes]

["Who Want It" playing]

♪ Ya boy is bouncy ♪

-I'm nervous, I'm nervous.
-[Michael] The bouncy weight.

[Wade] The young blood,
the youngin is here.

Boy, oh boy, does he make me feel old.

[Mark] Making his way to the ring

from Greensboro, North Carolina,
weighing in at 195 pounds.

Je'Von Evans

[Michael] You wanna feel old?

This young man wasn't even born in 2002

when the Elimination Chamber debuted.

He was born in 2004. He's 21 years old.

[Wade] I'm starting to hate Je'Von Evans
with-- with stats like that.

I mean, how can one guy get all the way?

How can you get to this level
at the age of just 21 years?

He's even a nice guy. He noticed
the guy's hat and goes back for it.

Man, nothing is really
phasing this young man,

but here's the problem for Je'Von Evans,
and it's twofold.

Number one, he's gonna kick this thing off
from the very beginning.

That is a long match,

and that is a lot of damage
that you will absorb inside the chamber

if you're gonna go the distance.

Number two, he doesn't know,
what he doesn't know,

and he's about to find out
once he hits that steel.

[Michael] But think about this, Wade.

Look at what
this young man's accomplished

over the past couple of months.

He was the Iron Man
in his first ever Royal Rumble match

when he lasted nearly 41 minutes.

And then, in order to qualify,
he beat the Intercontinental Champion

and AAA Mega Champion, Dominik Mysterio,

and the career killer Gunther
turned this opportunity tonight.

[Wade] Yeah, and it's a similar story
to flying under the radar.

-[Michael] Look at him.
-[Wade] What are you doing?

-[Michael] He has no fear.
-[Wade] Get in there.

You don't climb up and on the top.
You're gonna get in there, Je'Von.

[Michael] He has no fear.

Can you imagine what he's gonna be
capable of inside the chamber?

I think he might grow some fear
pretty quickly

once he eats that steel
for the first time.

But man, unbridled youthful enthusiasm

and flying under the radar
is Je'Von Evans.

[Michael] And again, the winner
of this match will face Drew McIntyre

for the WWE Championship at WrestleMania.
We know the world title is set.

CM Punk beating Bálor moments ago
will face Roman Reigns

for the world title at WrestleMania.

Roman Reigns actually tweeted this out
just moments ago.

He told CM Punk,
"Enjoy this final month of relevancy."

Roman Reigns watching tonight.

♪ You don't get no wins en mi casa ♪

♪ Put us on top number one
On the roaster ♪

♪ The streets keep talking our ears
On the concrete ♪

[Wade] And I'll tell you right now,
for an aerial tactician like Je'Von Evans,

who has those freakish flying skills,
this contraption,

this devastating looking
Elimination Chamber

really could potentially be
a major playground for him.

A lot of options
if you like aerial attacks

in this kind of match.

[Michael] You know, human beings
are not supposed to fly like that, Wade.

[Wade] He doesn't fly, he floats.

[Michael] You dropped like a blimp.

[Wade] And I would never get back up.
That's why I'm sat over here now.

[song concludes]

-["Kingdom" playing]
-[crowd cheering]

♪ Wrestling has
More than one royal family ♪

♪ Adrenaline in my soul
Every thought out of control ♪

♪ Do it all to get them off their feet ♪

♪ Crowd is here, about to blow
Waitin' for me to start the show ♪

♪ Out the curtain
Lights go up, I'm home ♪

♪ Whoa ♪

♪ And my father said
When I was younger ♪

[Mark] And from Atlanta, Georgia,
weighing in at 222 pounds,

the American Nightmare, Cody Rhodes!

[Michael] It is Cody Rhodes'
final opportunity

to get to the WWE Championship match.

at WrestleMania.
Cody Rhodes admitted, Wade, he hears it.

He said, "Some crowds are home crowds
and others are away crowds."

He wasn't sure
what he would get in Chicago tonight,

but he says he can't worry about that.
He's gotta focus on the task at hand,

and that is eliminating five other men
to get to WrestleMania.

[Wade] Might be
the most pressure Cody Rhodes

has felt for a long time. This is QB1.

♪ Whoa ♪

[Wade] And I don't know
if you can be QB1 of this entire industry

if you are not competing
for a major championship at WrestleMania.

If Cody loses here today, he will not be,

and questions will start to surround
who exactly is the leader

in this entire industry.

[Michael] He beat Sami Zayn and Jacob Fatu
to qualify for this match tonight.

It is the first time in 14 years

Cody Rhodes has stepped foot
inside the chamber.

But this is a much different Cody Rhodes

than the one that stepped
in the chamber 14 years ago.

He's been successful in Chicago.

He won the tag titles with Drew McIntyre
here in Chicago in 2010.

Won the Intercontinental
Championship here.

Had that great Hell in a Cell match
with Seth Rollins,

-and now is inside the chamber.
-[bell ringing]

[Michael] To start things off
with Je'Von Evans, who will survive?

Who will face
McIntyre at WrestleMania?

So Cody and Je'Von start the match.
Regularly scheduled intervals,

another man
will be released from the pod.

When you're eliminated
via tap out or count out,

I should say pin fall,
you will head back to the locker room.

There are no count outs,
there are no disqualifications.

The last man standing heads to Las Vegas.

And the 19,000 plus
with the Cody Rhodes chance,

and there's the drop down
big right hand by Cody.

[Wade] There could not be
a more jarring difference in experience

between two competitors
to kick this whole thing off.

Still wet behind the ears is Je'Von Evans,
but ready to shock the world here.

What a tall task against somebody
like Cody Rhodes who's done it all.

[Michael] Quickly into the cover on Evans
and a kick-out, Cody would be, uh,

right to ground Je'Von Evans
in the early going here.

[Wade] Yeah,
do not let go of Je'Von Evans.

If you're Cody Rhodes knowing full well
the speed of Je'Von Evans,

the fact that he can attack
from any angle.

[Michael] Roll up and a kick-out by Cody.

[Wade] Anyone who's studied Je'Von Evans

knows it is the hardest thing in the world
to keep this man grounded.

[Michael]
Again, we have company at ringside.

The Oracle of The Vision,
Paul Heyman out here watching his charge,

Logan Paul, compete.
Austin Theory out here as well.

[Wade] I'll lose it there once again,

Je'Von Evans and Cody
getting caught a little cold

in the early goings here.

[Michael] Yeah, nice hurricanrana
for Je'Von Evans

and talking about getting bouncy,
sets Rhodes across the ring.

Now here's the problem with Je'Von Evans,
he's hard to, uh, ooh, defend against.

And here's the cover, off the knee,
and Cody kicks out.

[Wade] Yeah, no angle is off limits
for Je'Von Evans.

He is so resourceful,
he is so creative, he's so unorthodox.

He throws the kind of moves at you
that this industry has not seen before.

Guys like Cody are simply not used to it
despite all their experience.

[Michael] And the youthful exuberance
of Je'Von Evans,

always with a smile on his face,
understands how huge this is.

[Wade] How exuberant are you now, youngin?

[Michael] And Cody Rhodes, who has shown
over the past couple of months

that he does have that killer instinct
to do what he has to do.

All you gotta do is look back
at that qualifying match a few weeks ago.

Cody doing what he had
to do to advance.

[Wade] Je'Von Evans,
welcome to the real world

of WWE at the very top level.

It's as inhumane and barbaric as it gets.

You wanna make it to WrestleMania,

you wanna compete for the biggest prizes,
this is what you have to deal with.

And it only gets harsher from here.

[Michael] An emotional roller coaster
during WrestleMania season,

49 nights away
from the start in Las Vegas.

And Cody now with the collision
takes down Evans,

cover again by Rhodes.

And Rhodes is…

-I would say, desperate tonight.
-[Wade] Yes.

[Michael] And will that come out
in the way that he works this match?

[Wade] I mean, it couldn't have started
any worse for Cody Rhodes.

The fact that he did not draw one
of the pods and he didn't get to rest

while the other guys beat themselves up.
But that isn't gonna daunt Cody.

Cody's had to win things
the hard way plenty of times before.

He's a guy who always bets on himself,

and he usually ends up
with a winning hand.

[Michael] But at some point,
does doubt start to creep in?

[Wade] I mean, it's the early goings here.

Ask me again
in the deep waters of this match.

-[Michael] Well, I'm just talking about…
-[Wade] If Cody is still in the match.

…I'm just talking about in general

over the past couple of months
of everything Cody's been through.

He's been stopped
and thwarted at every turn,

-every opportunity to get to WrestleMania.
-[crowd cheering]

[Michael] And now Evans and Rhodes
will have to battle a third superstar.

-Who will enter the chamber?
-[crowd counting]

[buzzer blaring]

-[Michael] Trick Williams.
-[crowd cheering]

[Wade] Time for this Elimination Chamber
to get a little flavor.

[Michael] And now Williams
turns his attention to a man

he's had some history with, Je'Von Evans.

[Wade] They know each other
incredibly well from their time at NXT,

which was not very long ago,
just several months ago,

-both locking horns there.
-[Michael] Oh, Trick Williams.

Remember that cyclone boot
Je'Von Evans was able to evade.

[Wade] Frequent movement again
of Je'Von Evans, and even Trick Williams,

who's used to it and knows all about it,
can't do anything about it.

[Michael] And now Trick
sending Je'Von off the ropes,

-and Je'Von caught him with a kick.
-[crowd cheering]

[Michael] Not sure he got all of it,
but it was effective.

[Wade] Simply dropped Trick Williams
with something more devastating, wait up.

[Michael] He went for the OG Cutter,
and he was intercepted.

[Wade] Well, that's a killer move
for Je'Von Evans,

but too fresh was Trick Willie,
too powerful, managing to block.

Oh, God, oh, God.

-[Michael] That shot just drops Evans.
-[crowd cheering]

[Michael] Again, you're in there
with a veteran in Cody Rhodes,

you can't be trash talking,
it's gonna get you in trouble.

[Wade] Oh, God, that Trick slap

across the jaw of Je'Von Evans,
completely rocking the youngin.

And he might be toast here,
completely groggy.

[Michael] Again, the Cyclone Boot from…

Trick Williams dropping Cody Rhodes.

[crowd chanting “Whoop that trick”]

[Michael] Look at Je'Von Evans now
off the second rope, caught by Trick.

Now, Trick with a double chokeslam.

-Cover now on Rhodes.
-[crowd counting]

[Michael] Cody gets the shoulder up.
Cover now on Evans.

-[crowd counting]
-[Michael] Evans able to kick out.

[Wade] That may have been
a little tribute to our friend at NXT,

Booker T,
a little double Book End right there,

taking both opponents down.

[Michael] You know, Wade,
we talked about this a few weeks ago,

the fact that there's so many similarities
between Trick Williams and Booker T.

The way they move in the ring,
their move set, their size.

[Wade] Yeah, no doubt about it.
I'll tell you what, right now,

if you are gonna have a mentor
in this game,

why not the five-time WCW Champion,
sucker? And by the way, two--

Mind your business
while grown folk talking.

[Wade]
Two-time WWE Hall of Famer, Booker T.

[Michael] Hey, Wade.
[shushes] Trick's talking.

[Wade] My bad.
He can talk smack just like Booker T, too.

And now Cody Rhodes,
gonna turn the tables.

Driven into the chain link,
Evans caught Cody with a kick.

Now a chop on Evans, again.

-And Evans fired up.
-[crowd cheering]

[Michael] The fourth man to enter
the chamber on his way in ten seconds.

[crowd counting]

[buzzer blaring]

-[Michael] Logan Paul of The Vision.
-[crowd booing]

[Wade] The Vision's one hope
for a major WrestleMania moment

after they got decimated
with bad luck and injuries,

and clearly made a ton
of enemies in the process.

-The reign of terror over on SmackDown.
-[crowd cheering]

[Michael] And Cody Rhodes,
Je'Von Evans and Trick Williams,

three on one against Logan Paul.

Wanna take out Logan as they send him,
driving him to the pod.

And out the other side.

[Wade] People just do not
like The Maverick, do they?

Is it jealousy or is it the arrogance
of Logan Paul that sets people off?

[Michael] I think it's just that
and The Vision and all of it.

[Wade] Logan Paul might be
out of this thing.

[Michael]
And now Je'Von Evans over the top

taking out Cody and Trick Williams.

Not the way that Logan Paul
wanted to start this night.

[Wade] No, the whole aim of Logan Paul
was to instill a little more belief,

and prestige back in The Vision,
get him back on track.

Well, this couldn't have started any worse

for the man who only qualified
24 hours ago.

[Michael] Yeah, Logan's only in this
because Jey Uso

was taken out by an unknown attacker.

And there's that Tornillo Splash
by Je'Von Evans…

-[crowd counting]
-…cover now and a kick-out by Trick.

[Wade] Just a joy to watch
Je'Von Evans do his thing,

that tornado kick right
to the back of the head.

And Trick Williams almost
getting the job done there.

And things have gone south
for Trick Willie in a hurry here.

[Michael] Now, Cody Rhodes,
who started this match with Je'Von Evans,

goes back on the attack.

Staring up at the WrestleMania sign.

[Wade]
Staring up at the WrestleMania sign.

Clearly a little out of breath
right now as Cody Rhodes

is taking a real beating
so far in this one.

He just needs to look over his shoulder
and see a fresh man in Randy Orton

and a fresh man in LA Knight
waiting to get into this thing.

It's gonna be a long night for Cody
if he can pull this off.

[Michael] He better dig down deep

because his last chance
at a title opportunity

at WrestleMania hangs in the balance here.

[Wade]
That's what you call a must win for QB1.

[Michael] Cody sent across the ring,

Je'Von Evans now launched out
over to the… that hard padding.

And now Logan Paul,
there's that slingshot lariat by Logan.

-That is a thing of beauty.
-[crowd booing]

[Michael] And I don't care
what you think about Logan Paul

and his antics and everything else.
He is one hell of an athlete.

He has taken to WWE like no one else
in such a short amount of time.

[Wade] Yeah, does Paul Heyman
make mistakes when he acquires a talent

for his group, for The Vision?

He has undoubtedly
succeeded historically,

and he's doing it again with Logan Paul.

[Michael]
As much as I don't want to admit it,

I don't think Paul Heyman's ever made
a mistake when it comes to talent.

You saw him walk out here
with Brock Lesnar

on Monday Night Raw, right?

And Brock issued an open challenge
for WrestleMania.

[Wade] No doubt about it,
once in a lifetime athlete,

and he may have another one
on his hands in Logan Paul.

[Michael] Who will enter number five?

Again, number five,
more wins than any other number

in the history of the chamber.

[crowd counting]

[buzzer blaring]

[Michael] LA Knight.

[Wade] Yeah, my loins are tingling
and Logan Paul's maybe too.

[Michael] Yeah, and quite the history
between LA Knight and Logan Paul.

[Wade] The Vision in general
have made LA Knight's

life hell on SmackDown.

[Michael] This dates back to SummerSlam
a couple of years ago

when LA Knight beat Logan Paul
for the United States Championship.

Oh, man, he turned Cody inside out.

Let's not forget that Logan Paul
and Bronson Reed smashed the body

-of LA Knight just before Christmas.
-[Michael] Yeah, a Tsunami through a car.

There's the neckbreaker
by LA Knight.

[Wade] LA Knight only has eyes
for Logan Paul right now.

Gotta be careful how many enemies
you make at this level,

especially when they're all thrown
into one match together.

[Michael] You see the welt building
on the back of Logan Paul, sure.

[Wade] I'm pretty sure
that was when he got drove

through one of those pods as soon
as he entered the match.

[Michael] Well, if he's not careful,
he may be driven through another pod.

[Michael] Oh!
No eliminations yet in this match.

Logan Paul living dangerously here,

but managing to somehow negotiate his way
away from the boots of LA Knight.

What was he cooking up here?

[Michael] Now, Logan Paul is not one
to shy away from risks.

[Wade] There's no escape line
in that cage.

There's a locked roof
on the top there, however.

[Michael] Hello, hello,
Logan, turn around.

Je'Von Evans scaling the chamber as well.

Both men now up on top
of the pod, dangerous situation.

LA Knight now scaling the chamber
on the other side.

[Wade] Well, one thing I know,
in situations like this,

gravity always wins in the end.

Somebody is gonna
have a rough, rough landing.

[Michael] Ask Austin Theory about that,
who's standing right in front of us.

He came off the top of the pad,
courtesy of Brock Lesnar.

And now Logan Paul sent
in to Cody and Trick.

[Wade] Just a human missile

launched by LA Knight and Je'Von Evans
to devastate an effect,

and then there were two.

[Michael] And now Evans
and LA Knight battle high above the ring.

Precarious situation for these two.

-[Wade] Oh, BFT.
-[Michael] BFT!

On the pod.

[Wade] And even delivering that move,

it took a lot out
of LA Knight right on the steel.

This is Logan Paul
taking out Trick Willie.

And Cody Rhodes, and here's that BFT.

Both men landing hard
on the top of that steel.

[Michael] That was indeed
blunt force trauma.

Randy Orton enters this match
for the tenth time in his career

in less than ten seconds.

[crowd counting]

[Michael] And I think
the complexion's about to change.

-The steely eyes of The Viper.
-[buzzer blaring]

[Wade] Generally the favorite
for every match he's ever in,

even more so when the deck
is stacked in his favor in the final pod.

[Michael] Physical clotheslines,
there's Orton's patented power slam.

[crowd cheering]

[Michael] Now Logan Paul
runs into one as well.

[Wade] Just looking
at his superlative best.

[Michael] Tonight just hasn't been
going Logan's way, has it?

And now Randy sends Trick Williams out
to that heavily padded steel.

And now Logan Paul launched
into Trick Williams.

It's been all Orton.

[Wade] And poor Trick Williams
has taken out

a lot of bodies getting thrown his way.

Going to eat every single collision
going down in a heap.

And that is right where
Randy Orton likes his prey.

[Michael] All six men still surviving.
Randy Orton now.

Vintage Orton with Draping DDTs.

[Wade] And it looks like
Paul Heyman's soul just left his body.

He knows what's coming next.

[crowd cheering]

[Michael] Randy's going
to that place, Wade,

where he hears voices in his head.

LA Knight.

Went for the RKO, did Orton,
Knight counters with a DDT.

[Wade] And you have to pounce
on Randy Orton when you get the chance.

It may have been smart to let Randy
execute an RKO on Logan Paul,

pin Logan Paul, get rid of Logan Paul.

But LA Knight knew his chance

to drop The Viper
was there, and he went for it.

[Michael] Bodies are everywhere.

Je'Von Evans…

is finally coming
to on the top of the pod,

following the BFT by LA Knight.

[Wade] And look who's lying
on the ground in the drop zone.

What the hell
is Je'Von Evans gonna do here?

Frog splash from the pod.

[Wade] Busted his own ribs
in the process. Wait up.

[Michael] Logan Paul now.
Here it is. Paul-verizer. Paul-verizer!

Logan eliminates Evans.

[Mark] Je'Von Evans has been eliminated.

[Michael] And for all the physical abuse
Paul took in this matchup,

he gains the first elimination.

[Wade] There's a bitter taste
of reality for Je'Von Evans,

overextended himself
with that frog splash

and you know a predator…

like Logan Paul
was just waiting to pounce.

[Michael] Again, sometimes
that youthful exuberance,

you get a bit carried away.

[Wade] Yeah, that's the only way
you learn lessons in this game,

by making a mistake like that.
Je'Von Evans, nice performance.

He'll be back.

[Michael] Cody now
sent across the ring by Logan.

Cody with a kick to Paul.

LA Knight now
with Cody up on his shoulders.

Down goes Rhodes.

Cover now by Knight.

-Rod--
-[referee counting]

Kick out at two.

Great job by our official
in this matchup, Rod Zapata,

making sure he was in perfect position.

[Wade] Microscopic level eyes there
from Rod Zapata,

shoulders slightly open.

Unforced error there from The Megastar,

which is likely
to be increasingly common

in this kind of brutal match.

-[Michael] And now it's Randy Orton.
-[crowd counting]

[Michael] Every man for himself
inside the chamber.

[Wade] And Orton just looks so, so fresh.

That's how valuable being
in that final pod is.

A bunch of broken bodies surrounding him,
throwing very little in the way of Randy.

Right into the corner, big boot
stops Randy in his tracks.

-What does Knight do here?
-[Wade] He goes up top.

He asks the world whose game is this?
And they reply.

[crowd] LA Knight, yeah!

[Michael] Oh, no,
critical error perhaps by LA Knight.

He tripped coming off the top rope,
got caught up in it all.

May have hurt himself,
rolled up by Trick,

and LA kicks out.
Man, what a crucial error.

[Wade] Yeah, once again,
it's this chamber.

Once you've taken
that steel a couple of times,

your body doesn't work the way
it's supposed to do,

-but that's the high risk--
-[Michael] BFT!

[Wade] Trying to pounce on that cover,

but somehow Trick Williams
bouncing out of the ring.

[Michael] Oh, and a low blow
by Logan Paul,

completely legal in this match.

And Paul with another elimination.

[Mark] LA Knight has been eliminated.

[Michael] Logan Paul eliminates LA Knight
and Je'Von Evans.

[Wade] Well, the referee
did not like that at all,

but very little the referee can do.
As cheap as it gets,

a low blow followed
by a handful of tights.

And Logan Paul starting
to make a major mark

on this Elimination Chamber match.

[Michael] Four men remain,
Logan, and Cody, Trick, and Randy.

[Wade] So the entire field
basically attacked Logan Paul

the second they got the chance.

The problem is he rode that out

and they may have
burned themselves out in the process.

And now Logan Paul, it's his to win.

[Michael] And look at the smile
on the face of Paul Heyman here

at ringside as he looks on

at the performance that Logan Paul
has had so far in the Chamber.

[Wade] Yeah. The tides are starting
to turn for The Vision, although…

[Michael] Right there
is classic Randy Orton.

[Wade] Well, somebody who knows
every dirty trick

in the book is Randy Orton.

[Michael] Logan with a kick right
to the midsection of Randy.

See Randy trash talking.

[Wade] There you go, one of the biggest
punches in the game right now.

[Michael] He's got that titanium
loaded right hand.

-[Wade] Trick Slap.
-[Michael] Oh! And he caught him.

[crowd cheering]

[Michael] And now Trick exposing the knee.

Went for the Trick Shot.

Logan Paul ducked out of harm's way.
Trick dropped.

-Cody Rhodes now…
-[crowd cheering]

[Michael] Cross Rhodes.

Logan Paul sends Cody into the post.

-[Wade] He wants to steal the pin.
-[Michael] Cover now on Williams.

A third elimination by Logan Paul.
Is Paul gonna run the table?

[Mark] Trick Williams has been eliminated.

[crowd cheering, applauding]

[Wade] Well, we are halfway
through the match

and the undeniable MVP
so far is Logan Paul.

[Michael] I don't care how he did it.

Logan Paul has eliminated Williams…

Knight, and Evans.

[Wade] But crucially,
there's still two more

to eliminate and they may be
the biggest names

in the entire match.

Probably the two favorites
from the word go,

-Cody Rhodes and Randy Orton.
-[Michael] Oh, my God, who the hell?

That… that… that…
that masked guy's back.

[Wade] Now where is he going?

I mean, I'm presuming this is not
the same individual from last night.

[Michael] Well, did we end
this whole thing last night?

Is this another copycat?

[Wade] We haven't got confirmation
what the hell was going

on last night, but thankfully
grabbing this guy,

getting the hell out of here.

-And security just--
-[Michael] And security--

[Wade] Hats off to them,
for once they did their job.

Who the-- Who are you?
Get him out of here.

[Wade] It's a different,
it's not the same guy as yesterday.

[Michael] What is going on around here?

Adam Pearce, the general manager is
screaming at him, "Who the hell are you?"

As they finally get him out
of the arena, we can reset now

inside the Chamber with Cody and--

[Wade] Well, Pearce and Aldis did not want
the Elimination Chamber match

messed up by anybody.

And once again, a very bizarre situation

with the masked man
or a clone of the masked man.

-[crowd cheering]
-[Michael] Wait, wait, who the hell?

Now another one,
another hooded figure,

another masked man walking
in through the open door.

[Wade] Well, now security have
cleared out, he's got a free entrance.

And he's looking right
at Logan Paul and The Vision.

-[crowd cheering]
-[Michael] A kick to Paul.

Stomp!

Cody into the cover.

-[crowd counting]
-[Michael] Paul eliminated.

-[Mark] Logan Paul has been eliminated.
-[crowd cheering, applauding]

-[crowd gasps, cheering]
-[Michael] Oh!

The man who gave birth to The Vision,

the man who was
excommunicated from The Vision,

the man who has payback on The Vision,

Seth Rollins is back.

[crowd cheering, applauding]

Is he even cleared to be here?

[Wade] Seth is supposed to be recovering
from shoulder surgery.

He has just destroyed The Vision's dreams.

[Michael] Wait,
for the second straight year,

Seth Rollins has completely
changed the complexion

-of the Elimination Chamber.
-[crowd chanting "Oh whoa oh"]

[Wade] As they serenade
Seth "Freakin" Rollins--

I got so many questions.

But there's only one question left
in this Elimination Chamber.

Is it Rhodes or is it Orton? Two men left.

[Michael] Heist of the century.
Coup of the century.

-[crowd chanting "Randy"]
-[Michael] Surprise of the century.

Seth Rollins, and now it's down
to Cody and Randy.

No doubt about what
this relationship means.

Cody Rhodes has talked
on a number of occasions

what Randy Orton meant to him
as Rhodes was coming up in WWE.

[crowd cheering, applauding]

[Michael] And now these two face off.

[Wade] Talk about legacy, boy's about to--
Oh, God!

[Michael] Oh, no, McIntyre!

McIntyre with the WWE title
to Cody Rhodes.

[Wade] Well, McIntyre's not supposed
to be anywhere near here,

went for that Claymore.

And now Cody Rhodes
getting some on McIntyre,

and a Glasgow Kiss.

This is absolute bedlam.

There's ain't place in the main event
of WrestleMania hanging in the balance,

can we get some damn control?

[Michael] Well, Drew doesn't
want anything to do

with Cody Rhodes at WrestleMania,
that's pretty clear.

-RKO!
-[crowd cheering, applauding]

[Michael] Cody!

Cross Rhodes!

-RKO! RKO! Cover!
-[crowd counting]

-[Michael] Orton did it! Orton did it!
-[bell ringing]

-[Michael] Orton pulled the trigger!
-[Mark] Here is your winner

-of the Men's 2026 Elimination Chamber…
-["Voices" playing]

…The Viper, Randy Orton!

[Michael] The WWE's Apex Predator
has his killer instincts back.

He didn't hesitate,
he struck when he needed to.

Randy Orton takes out Cody Rhodes.

Randy Orton is going to WrestleMania.

[Wade] Randy did exactly
what he said he was gonna do.

He pulled the trigger
on his good friend in order

to get to the main event of WrestleMania.

[Michael] Heartbreak will now set in
for Cody Rhodes.

It was his last chance.

[Wade] Oh, what a mess.

The ending of this Elimination Chamber
was for our officials,

just as we've had one attack
by a mystery man thwarted.

A second one arrived.

This one with the door
wide open, no security.

They were busy.

A stomp to Logan Paul,
destroying The Vision.

And then the unthinkable, unmasking

of an apparently
injured Seth "Freakin" Rollins.

I don't know what to think now.

[Michael] And then Drew McIntyre,
his obsession with Cody Rhodes.

Trying to prevent Rhodes

from once again battling
McIntyre for the WWE title.

Here's the problem
though for McIntyre now.

He's gotta face The Viper.

[Wade] Well, Orton's had his own problems
with McIntyre of late,

but here was Orton providing the save
for Cody and then pouncing.

Once Cody dropped his guard,

it really is cutthroat
at the very top in WWE, friend or foe.

I don't care, RKO won.

Where is that finger pointing?
WrestleMania.

-And that is where Randy is headed.
-[Michael] Number--

Number fifteen is
within the grasp of Randy Orton.

At WrestleMania in seven weeks,

49 nights, Randy Orton
battles Drew McIntyre

for the WWE Championship

as heartbreak and frustration sets in
for the American Nightmare.

♪ I hear voices in my head
They counsel me ♪

♪ They understand, they talk to me ♪

Through here on the concourse
of United Center,

the fans are going to start
spilling out here in a minute.

We want to remind you, don't go anywhere.

The Elimination Post Show
is coming up immediately.

All the winners will be here live.

All the analysis and interviews

and what does this now mean
on The Road to WrestleMania.

It's all ahead on the Post Show
from right here in Chicago.